The sudden cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Dharali has reduced high-altitude villages in Dharali into rubble, with officials confirming the deaths of at least four persons and over 50 persons missing.
Scary visuals show the mudslide surging down a mountain, carrying away homes and roads in Dharali town. Located en route to Gangotri, Dharali is one of the major towns in the region and home to several hotels, restaurants, and homestays. The devastating flash flood came in the wake of a cloudburst somewhere in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga River. According to reports, over 20 hotels were washed away in the flash floods.
Amidst scary visuals, giving hope are visuals of two men wading through the sludge and debris to safe shores. Villagers are heard screaming "Bhaag bhai bhaag, arre bhaag bhaag" from a distance in the video as a man is seen trying to wade his way through sludge and water, NDTV reported.
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Rescue efforts are underway, and personnel from the armed forces, SDRF and NDRF have been deployed for the relief operations. According to officials, a 16-member Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team has reached Dharali from its 12th battalion stationed at Matli in Uttarakhand, while another unit of the same strength has also been asked to rush to the cloudburst site. Arun Mohan Joshi, Uttarakhand SDRF IG, said the forces are carrying out rescue operations in a coordinated manner.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and took stock of the situation. Dhami said, "People are being evacuated to safe locations on a priority basis, and the situation is being continuously monitored. The administration is fully alert and providing all possible assistance to the affected citizens."