Dehradun, Aug 5 (UNI) Many people were feared dead and more than 50 persons were missing as Uttarakhand’s Dharali market area in Uttarkashi was trapped under flash floods triggered by a cloudburst on a hilltop above the market on Tuesday afternoon. Four deaths were confirmed.
Dharali market was engulfed in a thick mass of water and mud and sediment as a flash flood occurred at around 1.30 pm, sweeping away several hotels, houses and the nearby Harsil Based-army camp infrastructure.
Uttarkashi district disaster management officials informed that more than 50 persons were missing, while the death figure could not be ascertained as rescue and search operations were going on in Dharali market and the building infrastructure was impacted in the flash flood.
According to Uttarkashi district magistrate, four deaths were confirmed while information about other casualties were awaited as priority was to save as many persons as possible.
Uttarkashi district administration informed that the cloudburst had occurred on the Khirgad water stream hilltop above the Dharali market enroute Gangotri, which has inflicted heavy human and property losses in the area.
Officials said the cloudburst was triggered by continuous heavy rainfall in the hill areas for more than 24 hours. It resulted in a massive flash flood.
Although the scale of losses is yet to be known, but officials said that both the death and missing figures may be much higher as many houses were uprooted and people perished in the flash flood.
Many were also buried under the thick layers of mud and sediment, as teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), ITBP, Indian Army, State Disaster management department, local police had launched rescue and search operation since late afternoon.
Officials informed that the extent of the disaster was such that an army infrastructure located 3-4 kilometres away near Harshil was badly hit by the flash flood and rising level of River Ganga flowing close to it.
“Exact figure of the human losses is not known yet, but preliminary information received from officials on ground zero has confirmed four deaths. Exact details of the casualties will be known later as the rescue teams and local officials are engaged in the search and rescue operation,” said Prashant Arya, Uttarkashi district magistrate.
“The news of cloudburst in Dharali of Uttarkashi district has caused extensive damage. It is extremely saddening and painful. Relief and rescue operations are underway on a war footing, by the teams of SDRF, NDRF, district administration and other departments concerned. I am in continuous touch with senior officials and am closely monitoring the situation. I pray for the safety and well-being of everyone in the area,” said Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in his ‘X’ post.
Locals in Dharali market, located close to Mukhba village, the alternate seat of deity Gangotri on the other side of river Ganga, informed that human losses may be much more than is being claimed by the local administration.
“The human death figure can be staggeringly high, contrary to what’s being said. There was a sizeable strength of floating population in Dharali market today as a large number of people had gathered there to attend a fair on Monday. Many of them were still camping in the market area,” informed a local youth unwilling to be named.
Dharali, around 80 km from Uttarkashi district headquarter, lies enroute to Gangotri close to Ganga River bank. Opposite Dharali, on the other side of the Ganga, lies deity Gangotri’s winter seat Mukhba village where Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited in the month of June to promote winter tourism in Uttarakhand. The area is hardly 4-5 kilometers from the renowned hill station Harsil.
Expressing his grief over the disaster at Dharali, Prime Minister Modi said, “I express my sympathy for the people affected by this tragedy at Dharali in Uttarkashi and pray for the well-being of all victims. I have spoken to Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami for an update on the situation. Relief and rescue teams are making all possible efforts under the supervision of the state government. No stone will be left unturned to help the people.”
In his reaction, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “I have spoken to Uttarakhand Chief Minister on the flash flood incident in Dharali, Uttarkashi to get an update on the situation. Three teams of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from their respective nearby camps have also been sent to the disaster hit area.”
Meanwhile, a team of 50 personnel equipped with essential tools needed in rescue and search operation was moved from the SDRF headquarters in Dehradun to the disaster site. Tools included victim locating camera, thermal imaging camera, cutters, rotary hammer drill, a diamond-tipped chain saw, a portable generator, medical aids, and a satellite phone.
Uttarakhand government has sought support from the Indian Air Force in the rescue and search operation.
