Uttarkashi Cloudburst: Rain Disruption halts search and rescue process, people still missing
Uttarkashi Cloudburst: Rain Disruption halts search and rescue process, people still missing
Digital Desk: In the Dharali region of Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi, rain on Sunday caused search operations to be hampered, converting dry muck into marshy terrain and making rescue efforts much more difficult for agencies. Following a deadly cloudburst that caused landslides and flash floods, killing five people and leaving hundreds more missing, relief and rescue efforts are beginning their sixth day in a row.
The Uttarkashi District is expected to see light to moderate rainfall, with isolated parts likely to see moderate to heavy rain on Sunday evening and night, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Cloudy skies and light to moderate rain are predicted for the next six hours (4:30 PM to 10:30 PM IST on August 10, 2025), with moderate to high-intensity rainfall likely in the evening and night.
The Indian Army, state governments, and other groups worked together to safely evacuate all stranded visitors as part of Operation Zindagi.
According to an Indian Army statement, 33 helicopter sorties by Army and civil aviation personnel rescued 195 citizens, while approximately 200 tourists were safely led through landslide-prone areas and taken from the Harsil helipad on Saturday.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that over 1,000 people have been rescued, and all injured people have been transported to healthcare facilities.
Efforts to clear debris and restore road access in Dharali are ongoing, but connectivity remains severely affected.
Rescue crews continue to conduct rigorous searches in both Harsil and Dharali, with the goal of discovering any remaining missing persons. Several laborers stuck near Gangotri owing to blocked roads and rising water levels were successfully rescued and taken to Harsil for refuge and medical care.
The Indian Army's medical experts have already treated 35 people, and more relief supplies are being airlifted from Dehradun. Over 1.4 tons of food had been supplied, with additional supplies due in the coming days.
Brigadier M S Dhillon stated that identifying individuals trapped beneath the wreckage is still the key focus of the rescue operations today.
In addition to the continuing activities, the state government has organized a three-person commission to analyze the damage, supervise recovery, and make long-term recommendations. The group will submit a preliminary report within a week.
The committee is chaired by Surendra Pandey, Revenue Secretary; Ashish Chauhan, CEO of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority; and Himanshu Khurana, Additional Secretary (Finance).
The Chief Minister also provided immediate financial help of Rs 5 lakh individually to the relatives of the deceased and those whose homes were entirely damaged in Dharali.
