Uttarkashi: Dharali village swept away, 11 soldiers missing, Kedarnath yatra suspended

Torrential rains and a sudden cloudburst in Uttarkashi district have left a trail of destruction, sweeping away nearly half of Dharali village, suspending the Kedarnath Yatra, and forcing schools across multiple districts of Uttarakhand to shut on Wednesday, 6 August.

Amid the devastation, the ancient Kalp Kedar temple, built in the traditional Kature style and similar in architecture to Kedarnath Dham, once again came into focus as it was buried in the debris brought over by the flash flood in the Kheer Ganga river.

The temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, had previously remained buried for years under debris brought in by floods of the Kheer Ganga river, with only its tip visible. Excavation in 1945 had revealed its full structure, located below ground level, where devotees descended to offer prayers.

Locals recall that water from the Kheer Ganga often flowed onto the sanctum sanctorum’s shivling, uniquely shaped like Nandi’s back, just as in Kedarnath. The temple also bears intricate stone carvings outside its premises.

On Tuesday afternoon, Dharali village, a key halt on the Gangotri route, was battered by a flash flood following the cloudburst. Four deaths have been confirmed, while at least 60 people remain missing — including 11 soldiers, according to defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Shrivastava. Nearly 130 villagers have been evacuated to safety, though no bodies have been retrieved so far.

Colonel Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of 14 Raj Rif, is leading relief operations with a 150-soldier team, even as his unit continues searching for its own missing personnel. “Despite its soldiers going missing and its base being hit, the team is working with full courage and determination,” Shrivastava said.

The Indian Army has already deployed MI-17 and Chinook helicopters, while the Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed assets on standby from Chandigarh, Sarsawa, and Bareilly. These include two Chinooks, two Mi-17V5s, two Cheetahs, and an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). However, poor visibility and relentless downpours hampered aerial operations on Tuesday.

“Helicopters were ready to take off today itself, but due to poor visibility and heavy rains, it was unsafe to operate,” an IAF official told IANS. Once weather conditions improve, the IAF is expected to conduct aerial rescue and supply missions in the Harshil sector.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Uttarakhand, warning of heavy rainfall across several districts, including Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, and Nainital. Authorities have ordered all schools and Anganwadi centres from Class 1 to 12 to remain closed in districts such as Dehradun, Chamoli, Tehri, and Almora.

The pilgrimage to Kedarnath Dham has also been suspended until further notice after landslides blocked the Sonprayag-Gaurikund stretch and falling debris made the trekking route unsafe. “In view of the safety of the general public and devotees, the Kedarnath Dham Yatra has been postponed till further orders,” SP Rudraprayag Akshay Prahlad Konde confirmed, urging people to stay away from rising riverbanks.

With continuous rainfall, washed-out roads, and communication breakdowns in several parts of the state, rescue agencies — including the Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, and local police — are racing against time to save lives. The Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers are both in spate, raising the risk of further calamity.