DHARALI (UTTARKASHI), August 6 — As relentless rain continued to hamper rescue efforts, teams recovered one more body from the rubble in flood-hit Dharali village on Wednesday, a day after a cloudburst-triggered flash flood devastated the region. The official death toll now stands at four, with at least 60 people still missing, including 11 Army personnel, officials said.
Rescue operations resumed early Wednesday amid difficult conditions. “The situation remains challenging as it is still raining, and debris has reached the Army base. One road is blocked, and evacuation is ongoing,” Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told PTI Videos. He surveyed the area in Dharali and Harsil from a helicopter and later reviewed rescue and relief efforts at the State Emergency Operation Centre in Dehradun.
“Every life matters to us. Medicines, food and ration are being provided. We have deployed 160 police personnel and three nodal officers from the CM’s office,” Dhami added.
Located en route to Gangotri, Dharali is a popular Himalayan village, home to several hotels and homestays. Nearly half the village was destroyed in Tuesday’s flash flood, which struck while many had gathered for the annual Har Dudh fair.
So far, around 130 people have been evacuated. Teams from the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are conducting search and rescue operations under heavy rain and thick layers of debris.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Dhami and assured full central assistance. The Army has also placed MI-17 and Chinook helicopters on standby to search for those stranded — though poor weather has grounded aerial efforts for now.
Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Shrivastava confirmed that 11 soldiers are among the missing. Col Harshvardhan, commanding officer of the 14 Rajputana Rifles, is leading the ground operations with 150 soldiers, despite the regiment’s own base being hit by the flood.
“Our team is working with complete courage and determination, even as their own comrades remain unaccounted for,” Shrivastava said.
Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli, quoting the ITBP, confirmed the latest body recovery. Officials expect the missing count may rise, as more people were likely present for the fair when the flood struck.
Rescue teams are racing against time, terrain and weather, with many parts still inaccessible due to landslides and blocked roads.
