Parallel News Digital Desk, 6th August
Torrential rains and flash floods have left a trail of destruction in Uttarkashi’s Dharali area, where at least five bodies were recovered by Wednesday afternoon. More than 100 people remain missing, raising fears that the death toll may rise further.
Relentless rainfall continued across Uttarakhand for the third consecutive day, hampering rescue efforts by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Rescuers, working in hazardous conditions, have so far evacuated approximately 150 people to safety.
The flash flood struck after a cloudburst over the Khirganga river on Tuesday afternoon, sweeping away houses, hotels, vehicles, and people in its path. Villages including Suki and its surroundings bore the brunt of the sudden deluge.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours in Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts. Red and orange alerts have been issued in several areas, warning of potential further disruptions.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a high-level meeting to assess the crisis. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Dhami over the phone to review the situation and was also briefed by several Members of Parliament from the state.
Landslides triggered by the downpour have disrupted road connectivity across the state. As of Wednesday, 163 roads — including seven state highways, five national highways, and two border roads — remain blocked.
Specially trained sniffer dogs have been deployed in Dharali to search for survivors who may be trapped under debris.
Authorities continue to race against time as rains persist and the terrain remains treacherous.
