Dharali Disaster : 50-Foot Debris Wall Challenges Uttarkashi Landslide Rescue
Dharali Disaster : Uttarkashi, August 7, 2025: The massive boulders scattered across the heaps of debris in Dharali are a grim reminder of what unfolded on the afternoon of August 5. Amidst this wreckage, the search for life continues, but it’s not easy to look for a heartbeat under 50 feet of rubble. The debris has created a formidable wall of challenges.
Despite this, personnel from the Army, ITBP, SDRF, NDRF, and police are working tirelessly, hopeful that they might find someone clinging to life. Inspector General of the SDRF, Arun Mohan Joshi, stated that while the teams face difficulties navigating over 50 feet of debris, the search operation is progressing with the help of advanced equipment.
Two days have passed since the disaster, and assessing the full extent of the damage remains difficult. More than two dozen buildings in Dharali have been completely destroyed. The exact number of casualties is still uncertain.
However, with clear weather today, the rescue operation is moving ahead at full speed. Drones are flying overhead, and sniffer dogs are being used to aid the search. A total of 19 people, including nine army personnel, are reported missing, and two bodies have been recovered.
With the Gangotri highway damaged, helicopters are the only means of transport. Out of nine helicopters, seven have been deployed for the rescue mission. Efforts to evacuate stranded pilgrims from Gangotri also began on Thursday. By 10 a.m., 61 people had been airlifted to the ITBP camp in Matli. The rescued individuals are being provided with arrangements to travel to their destinations. Two seriously injured people from the Matli health camp were referred to AIIMS Rishikesh, where they have been admitted.
