August 12, 2025

Uttarkashi’s Dharali village is still fighting for life after harsh flash floods and mudslides swept through on August 5, 2025. The disaster buried half the village, leaving 66 people missing, including 24 Nepali labourers. On August 11 evening, experts from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) arrived with Ground Penetrating Radars (GPRs) — fancy devices that send radio waves underground to find things under mud and water. Officials said, "These radars can detect human life even in the presence of mud and water," hoping to spot anyone trapped beneath the debris. This technology isn’t new for NGRI; they used it earlier to save lives during the SLBC tunnel collapse in Telangana. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indian Army are racing against time with dogs and high-tech tools. Though relentless rain is slowing helicopter evacuations, four choppers work round the clock to airlift stranded victims. Sadly, 24 Nepali workers remain missing, along with 42 others — including nine army personnel, villagers from Uttarkashi, and people from nearby states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Officials have restored the vital Valley Bridge connecting Uttarkashi to Harsil, speeding up relief supply trucks and machinery. But rainy skies threaten more troubles with predicted heavy showers till August 15. On the ground, relief materials like food, clothes, gumboots, and sleeping bags are reaching survivors. Authorities have also announced ₹5 lakh ex-gratia payments to the families of the deceased, including Akash Panwar, whose body was found. District Magistrate Prashant Arya and Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey are tirelessly managing rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts. Around 1,300 people seized by the floods have been airlifted to safety so far. Adding a legal touch, Uttarakhand High Court Judge Sachin Kumar revealed that a special team of doctors, advocates, and rescue forces will visit the site to report on the victims’ needs and recommend support schemes. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam and the Irrigation Department are carefully draining a newly formed lake on the Bhagirathi river near Harsil helipad to prevent further flooding. The dramatic rescue saga in Uttarkashi continues — a dance between nature’s fury and human courage, science, and solidarity.

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Tags: Uttarkashi flood, Rescue operations, National geophysical research institute, Ground penetrating radar, Nepali labourers missing, Flash floods,