'There’s Water Everywhere, We Won’t Survive, Papa': Nepal Couple Recalls Distressing Last Call with Son After Uttarakhand Cloudburst

A cloudburst swept through the Dharali area of Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand on Tuesday, wiping out much of the village and leaving a trail of destruction. Among those affected was a couple from Nepal, Kali Devi and her husband Vijay Singh, who narrowly escaped the calamity. They recalled their son’s final two-minute phone call before he went missing- clearly terrified, he cried, “Papa, we will not survive.

Devastation Strikes Without Warning

The couple had left the Harsil Valley for Bhatwari around noon, after finishing their work, barely more than an hour before the disaster struck. When they tried to return on foot the next day, they were halted by the washed-out BRO bridge over the Bhagirathi River. Kali Devi said, “If I had known what was coming, I would never have left my children behind. I urge the government to take us to Harsil. We want to find our children ourselves.

Wider Search Amid Mounting Loss

The cloudburst caused flash floods and landslides that buried homes, shops, and part of an army camp in Dharali. At least four people have died, dozens remain missing including army personnel and rescue operations are ongoing in challenging terrain. Rescue teams from the Army, NDRF, ITBP, and local forces are actively working, using helicopters, heavy machinery, and drones to reach survivors and deliver aid.