Over 65 missing in Uttarakhand’s Dharali disaster; NGRI experts launch search operation

Authorities in Uttarakhand have released the names of 68 people missing after flash floods and landslides struck Dharali in Uttarkashi district and parts of Pauri Garhwal on August 5 and 6. The missing include 24 Nepali nationals and 44 Indian citizens. Rescue teams have evacuated 1,308 people from affected areas since the disaster began.

Experts from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) have joined the search efforts, using Ground Penetrating Radars (GPRs) capable of detecting human presence beneath mud, water, and debris. The team arrived in Dharali on Monday evening to identify possible sites where missing persons could be trapped. This technology was previously deployed in the SLBC tunnel collapse in Telangana.

The disaster was triggered by a cloudburst over the Kheer Ganga river, leading to the destruction of homes, hotels, and a centuries-old temple. Continuous rainfall and road blockages have slowed rescue and relief operations. Helicopters have been deployed to transport supplies and aid personnel as road access to Dharali remains blocked by debris.

Among the missing are nine army personnel, eight residents of Dharali, five people from nearby villages, one person from Tehri district, 13 from Bihar, and six from Uttar Pradesh. Of the 29 Nepali labourers initially reported missing, five have been traced following the restoration of mobile services. Officials are collecting further details about the remaining 24 labourers from their contractors.

Relief measures include the distribution of ₹5 lakh ex-gratia to the families of the deceased and essential supplies such as foodgrains, clothing, gumboots, and sleeping bags to affected residents. The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority has issued advisories following red, orange, and yellow weather alerts, with heavy rain forecast on August 13, 14, and 15.