- Over 66 people, including locals, army personnel, and migrant workers, are still missing after floods hit Dharali village.
- A natural dam formed by flood debris has created an artificial lake, worsening the crisis.
- Rescue efforts are hampered by continuous rains and blocked roads, though 1,300 people have been evacuated.
More than a week after devastating flash floods struck India’s northern state of Uttarakhand, at least 66 people remain unaccounted for, according to official sources.
According to reports reaching Eko Hot Blog, heavy rains battered the region on 5 August triggered a violent mudslide in Dharali village, Uttarkashi district, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. Authorities confirmed that nearly half of Dharali was buried under debris, as torrents of water and mud swallowed homes, shops, and roads within minutes.
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A revised government statement on Monday confirmed only one fatality so far, walking back an earlier death toll of four. Despite the odds, search and rescue operations continue amid harsh weather and difficult terrain.
Officials say an army camp in the vicinity also suffered significant damage, and nine soldiers are among those listed as missing. The current breakdown includes 24 Nepalese nationals, 14 local residents, 13 people from Bihar, six from Uttar Pradesh, and the nine army personnel.
So far, rescue teams have managed to evacuate around 1,300 individuals from the disaster zone. But with inclement weather disrupting operations and a major highway still blocked by debris, authorities fear the number of victims may rise.
Local officials say the Kheerganga river swelled dangerously due to incessant rains, releasing a surge of muddy waters that cascaded down the hills, overwhelming everything in its path. Nearby Harsil village also suffered heavy damage.
Shocking videos that emerged online showed monstrous waves of mud and water flattening buildings and sweeping away vehicles, leaving residents with barely any time to flee.
While initial reports from Uttarakhand’s state government attributed the disaster to a cloudburst, India’s Meteorological Department is yet to confirm the exact cause. To unravel the mystery, a team of 10 geologists has been deployed to assess the terrain and offer insights into the underlying triggers.
Meanwhile, the overflowing Kheerganga river deposited large volumes of silt into the Bhagirathi river which eventually becomes the Ganges causing a natural dam and creating a temporary lake. The artificial water body submerged vast areas, including a government-owned helipad.
Efforts to drain the lake were initially successful, but continued rainfall over the past few days has filled it up once again, raising fears of further flooding downstream.
Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior official coordinating the rescue mission, stressed that the situation remains precarious. “We are doing everything possible to locate the missing and stabilise the area. But the ground reality is challenging,” he said in a statement.
Locals, however, claim that the actual number of missing persons may be higher than official figures suggest, pointing to several families still searching for their loved ones.
Uttarakhand, a hilly state often vulnerable to landslides and floods during India’s monsoon season, has witnessed a spate of such incidents in recent years a stark reminder of the growing toll of extreme weather events in the Himalayan region.
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