Uttarakhand
National News: A devastating cloudburst in the Dharali village of Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday, unleashed widespread destruction, leaving behind a trail of death, panic, and uncertainty. The natural disaster led to a massive landslide, and while four casualties have been officially confirmed, 28 tourists from Kerala are still unaccounted for—sparking deep concern among their families and local authorities.
Among those missing, 20 individuals were Kerala natives settled in Maharashtra, while the remaining eight were visiting from different regions of Kerala. The group was on a 10-day excursion across Uttarakhand, organized by a privately run travel agency located in Haridwar. All members were reportedly traveling together when the disaster struck.
A family member of one of the tourists stated that the group had departed from Uttarkashi towards Gangotri around 8:30 AM on Monday. That was the last point of contact. Since the cloudburst occurred along this very route, fears are mounting that the group may have been caught in the landslide and is now stranded or trapped.
Relatives have expressed fears that mobile services in the affected area may have collapsed, or the tourists' phone batteries may have died—leaving them unreachable. “We are clinging to hope that they have found shelter somewhere safe, but the silence is terrifying,” one relative shared.
Authorities reported that nearly half of Dharali village has been buried under layers of mud, stones, and floodwater. Situated along the route to the Gangotri pilgrimage site, Dharali hosts several accommodations for travelers, many of which are now severely damaged or submerged. Road connectivity has been entirely severed, causing additional delays in the ongoing rescue efforts.
Multiple disaster response teams, including personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Indian Army, and local police, have been dispatched for ongoing rescue and relief efforts. Helicopters are being used to conduct aerial surveys, though rough terrain and unpredictable weather conditions are complicating ground efforts. Officials have appealed to locals to temporarily move to safer locations and remain cautious of false information or rumors.
Back in Kerala and Maharashtra, families of the missing are making emotional appeals to the administration, urging swift and focused search operations. Photos of the tourists have flooded social media platforms, with widespread requests for any updates or sightings from the public.
This disaster once again underlines the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan regions to extreme weather events—often worsened by climate change. Experts emphasize the need for robust early warning systems, upgraded infrastructure, and sustainable tourism policies to reduce the scale of such tragedies in the future.
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