In Dharali, in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, a landslide on Tuesday led to catastrophic conditions akin to a deluge. This event has baffled meteorologists. The village, sitting at approximately 2,745 meters above sea level, was suddenly engulfed by a destructive current of mud and water, devastating large sections within seconds.
Numerous videos at the time of the disaster surfaced on social media, depicting horrifying scenes. A deadly torrent of mud and water cascaded from above, burying the entire area under debris.
Initial reports from the Uttarakhand government pointed to a cloudburst, an intense and brief rainfall event, as the reason behind this disaster. Such rainfall typically exceeds 100 mm in an hour.
Source: aajtak
Tourists Rescued from Higher Regions
At the time of the disaster, Dharali and surrounding areas were teeming with people, including many tourists. Some routes to and from Dharali traverse the disaster-hit region. Following the event, one route was obliterated by 80 feet of debris, leaving many tourists stranded in higher regions until they were rescued to safer grounds. Survivors vividly recounted their near-death experiences.
Source: aajtak
'Saved by the Temple Gathering…'
The calamity severely impacted Dharali and surrounding villages. Survivors airlifted to safety described the scene. A local fair at the temple brought many residents together, sparing them from being home during the disaster.
A woman shared, "People gathered towards Mukhwa, attending temple rituals, watched the horrifying scene unfold. Safety whistles warned them."
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'I Jumped from the Second Floor…'
Tourist Bhupendra Mehta, from Ranikhet, recounted the disaster scene. During the cloudburst, Bhupendra was staying at a hotel, sleeping. When debris struck, panic ensued. Bhupendra crawled through the rubble to safety, describing his leap from the second floor and how mud ruined their clothes, compelling military personnel to provide uniforms.
He remarked on the lack of electricity and communication in Dharali post-disaster, intensifying people's distress due to inability to contact family.
Source: aajtak
'Hotels Gone, We Were Fortunate…'
A couple from Bengaluru, rescued from Dharali, recounted, "Our hotel remained intact, while others around fell. We grabbed our belongings and fled immediately. We feel fortunate to have survived."
Survivors, though smiling with relief, bear exhaustion and terror in their eyes from the disaster's traumatic memory.
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'We Were Under Immense Stress…'
A group of 18 tourists from Maharashtra, including 10 women, were doing a pilgrimage and paused seven kilometers from Dharali at Bhairo Valley during the incident. Debris blocked the route, isolating them until the military rescued them. They shared their ordeal.
Source: aajtak
A group member conveyed their stress due to communication loss with family, who watched the crisis unfold on TV, evoking worry. Another expressed relief at being safe, recalling the distress of those days.
Determined to Complete the Journey...
Traveler Krishna expressed gratitude to the government for its assistance, detailing the visit to Gangotri on the fifth and receiving news of the cloudburst by noon.
Despite their near misses, survivors remain resolute, insisting on completing their pilgrimage before returning home, demonstrating undeterred spirit post-disaster.
