Everything was lost...
These are the words of eyewitnesses to the devastation in Dharali village, Uttarkashi, following a cloudburst. The tragic videos from Tuesday's havoc in Dharali have been circulating across social media, capturing the clear sounds of people's cries and panic.
In one such chilling video from the Dharali disaster, some individuals can be seen sprinting and screaming for their lives. Another clip reveals a person struggling to escape the surging waters to safety, bringing back painful memories of the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy.
The overwhelming scene left witnesses from Mukhba village near Dharali in a state of deep shock. Sixty-year-old local witness Subhash Chandra Semwal shares that never in his life had he witnessed such a dreadful sight.
Source: aajtak
He recounts that it was around noon when he heard the loud roaring of water. Stones were rapidly tumbling down. Then, he and his family rushed outside to see the raging Khir Ganga River waters surging with great speed. Fear seized them all. They whistled to alert the market people in Dharali, urging them to evacuate immediately. They kept shouting for a long time.
With a heavy heart, Semwal narrates how several people raced out from hotels at the sound of their voices, but the fierce current engulfed everyone. A different video from the incident shows people running in panic and frantically calling their relatives. The person in the video says that everything was lost.
It's noteworthy that Dharali is a significant transit point to Gangotri. Numerous hotels, restaurants, and homestays exist here. Rescue operations by Army, NDRF, SDRF, and ISBT teams are actively underway. The Army's Harshil camp is merely four kilometers from the site. Debris is visible everywhere in videos uploaded by the Army on social media. People are advised to keep away from disaster-affected Dharali. Meanwhile, SDRF sources have disclosed that a team of 50 soldiers is diligently engaged in relief and rescue operations.
Four NDRF teams are on-site, actively participating in rescues. Additionally, ITBP has deployed three teams for relief efforts. Considering the situation's severity, both state and central governments are urging the public to stay away from the river. The state government is closely monitoring the situation.
Source: aajtak
Continuous heavy rains have caused debris and boulders to fall at several points on the Gangotri National Highway, severely disrupting traffic. BRO is working at a war footing to reopen the national highway. An army camp was also affected in the incident, with several soldiers reported missing. Due to heavy rainfall, helicopter rescue operations are currently impeded.
The flood in Dharali's Khir Ganga has led to waterlogging around the Harshil helipad area. There is a looming threat of floods in the lower parts of Uttarkashi, prompting many to evacuate the region out of fear of further destruction.
