Debris being removed as security personnel keep vigil at flood-ravaged Dharali of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, Thursday, August 7. PTI
Uttarkashi flash floods: 70 rescued, 50 missing; NDRF, cadaver dogs roped in
Four people have been killed in the tragedy which unfolded when a sudden cloudburst triggered flash floods in Uttarkashi’s Dharali town on Tuesday
At least 70 people were rescued on the third day of operations in flash flood-ravaged Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand on Thursday (August 7), while 50 people are still said to be missing.
So far, four people have been killed in the tragedy which unfolded when a sudden cloudburst triggered flash floods in Uttarkashi’s Dharali town on Tuesday (August 5) afternoon. Videos showed a massive torrent of water wiping out settlements as it made its course down.
The Indian Army, which is leading the rescue operation in the ecologically fragile area, recovered two bodies on Wednesday.
Besides locals and tourists, the missing may include labourers as several hotels were under construction at the site of the flash floods.
Dharali is the main stopover on the way to Gangotri, from where the Ganga originates, and is home to several hotels and homestays.
65 stranded people airlifted
The district administration said 65 people who were stranded at different locations were airlifted to Matli town on Thursday.
Efforts were also stepped up to airlift advanced equipment to the worst-hit Dharali village to speed up the search for those trapped under the rubble, officials said.
The Indian Army said its troops reached Dharali within 15 minutes of the tragedy. It ramped up Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in the Himalayan village and nearby Harsil. The region remains cut off due to multiple landslides and road breaches.
Nine Army personnel – one junior commissioned officer and eight jawans – are also reported missing, it said.
Road access is severely disrupted at multiple locations, including Bartwari, Linchigad, near Harsil, Gangnani and Dharali. Civilian and military teams are working round the clock to rescue stranded people, provide relief and restore connectivity, the Army said.
NDRF, cadaver dogs join rescue ops
A team of 69 NDRF rescuers, two cadaver dogs and veterinarians joined the rescue operations in Dharali, a senior officer of the federal contingency force said.
Apart from the cadaver dogs, who will help find the dead, the NDRF has four sniffer dogs who can detect survivors, the officer said.
Follow LIVE updates below
Live Updates
- 7 Aug 2025 1:50 PM IST
Rations being airdropped to stranded locals and tourists in Uttarkashi
On the rescue operations in Dharali and Harsil in Uttarkashi, Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva, Chief of Staff, Central Command, said, "In complete synergy with civil administration, Indian Air Force, NDME and ITBP, the Indian Army has intensified the joint relief operations. As the first responders, our infantry battalion at Harsil reached under the commanding officer within 15 minutes of the incident. This was despite a few of our personnel themselves being affected. Since then, additional columns have been deployed."
He added, "Our special forces from Agra, in AN32 and C-295 aircraft, have been flown. Medical equipment has been moved. The engineers have moved specialised equipment, and an engineer task force has been deployed, including with the BRO, with efforts to clear the communication lines... SAR dogs have been inducted, including by airlifting them.
"Rations are being airdropped to the stranded locals and the tourists... Indian Army, Army Aviation, and the IAF, in complete synergy, are undertaking sorties through Chinooks, Mi-17s, ALHs, and Cheetahs. Our signallers are ensuring restoration of communication for which satellite phones have been provisioned... Casualty evacuation is being carried out. Indian Army has established joint control rooms at Dehradun, Joshimath, and is fully operational at Harsil, Dharali itself... "
- 7 Aug 2025 1:25 PM IST
Rivers start receding in UP
The Ganga, Yamuna, and Sharda rivers in Uttar Pradesh have started to recede but continue to flow above the danger mark at several places.
According to the State Flood Management Information System report, on Wednesday, the Ganga remained above the danger mark at multiple points, including Kachhla Bridge in Budaun, Ghazipur, Chhatnag and Phaphamau in Prayagraj, Ballia, Mirzapur, and Varanasi.
The river was rising at Kachhla bridge and stable in Ghazipur, while it was receding in Chhatnag and Phaphamau in Prayagraj, Ballia, Mirzapur, and Varanasi.
The Ghagra river is also flowing above the danger mark in Ayodhya and at Elgin Bridge in Barabanki. It is continuously rising in Ayodhya while stable at Elgin Bridge, the report said.
It also said that the Yamuna has crossed the red mark at Naini in Prayagraj and is now starting to recede. Meanwhile, the Rapti River, which flows above in Bhinga and Rapti Barage in Shravasti, is also nearing its danger mark.
The Sharda, flowing above the danger mark in Palliakalan (Lakhimpur Kheri), has begun to recede as well.
- 7 Aug 2025 1:14 PM IST
Injured persons admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh
AIIMS Rishikesh, Hospital Director Meenu Singh gives update on the injured people who are admitted. She said that one person is serious.
"Three male patients have been brought here. They are aged 32, 28, and 42 years. The 32-year-old victim is very serious and he has been admitted to the red area... Among other things, he has a spine fracture... The others are in a stable condition... They are being well taken care of... We are expecting more patients as well. Two patients have also been taken to the Military Hospital, Dehradun," she said.
- 7 Aug 2025 1:11 PM IST
BRO restoring road connectivity
Director General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, said one bridge has been destroyed and they are looking at establishing road connectivity at the earliest.
"After the cloudburst and heavy rainfall following it, the distance from here to Dharali is approximately 96 km, and there are four major slide points throughout the route and one bridge has been destroyed. For the past two days, BRO personnel and machinery have been deployed, and efforts are underway to restore the roads. We expect that connectivity will be restored in a few hours. Bridge stores have already been loaded, and our jawans are ready. As soon as the road connectivity is restored, they will rush to start the construction of the bridge by tonight... We hope to launch the bridge in a day. In the next three days, we will be able to open the road to Harsil and restore connectivity. The road connecting Harsil to Dharali is currently underwater. We can either restore the old road or carve out a fresh one; both options are open," he said.
- 7 Aug 2025 12:45 PM IST
Update from ITBP
A total of 307 pilgrims were evacuated from Gangotri to Mukhwa by the ITBP rescue team and have departed for Harsil helipad along with the team: ITBP - 7 Aug 2025 12:42 PM IST
Priority to airlift machinery to dig through 50-60-feet mounds of debris: SDRF
SDRF IG Arun Mohan Joshi said there are 50 to 60-ft-high mounds of debris in Dharali and those missing may be trapped under them.
“Our priority today is to airlift advanced equipment to the spot. Our teams coming with advanced equipment on Wednesday were held up due to blocked roads,” he told PTI.
The advanced equipment will help rescuers dredge through the huge volume of rubble in search of the missing.
Another priority is rescuing pilgrims stranded at different locations because of blocked roads. Their number could be 300-400, Joshi said.
Besides locals and tourists, the missing may include labourers as several hotels were under construction at the site of the flash floods.
Ground penetrating radars and sniffer dogs are also likely to be used to trace the missing, the official said.
- 7 Aug 2025 12:16 PM IST
Dhami meets a Dharali evacuees in hospital
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached Uttarkashi hospital to meet those who were evacuated from disaster-hit Dharali. - 7 Aug 2025 12:14 PM IST
35 airlifted from Harsil to Dehradun airport
35 people rescued from Harsil and airlifted on an IAF Chinook to Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun.
