Uttarkashi flash floods: 70 rescued, 50 missing; NDRF, cadaver dogs roped in

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.

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