A 28-member group of tourists, comprising natives of Kerala, including 20 settled in Maharashtra, has gone missing following catastrophic mudslides triggered by a cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Tuesday (August 5). Relatives reported that the tourists last made contact as they set out from Uttarkashi to Gangotri, a route that was later hit by deadly landslides and flash floods.
Kerala tourists untraceable after nature’s fury
Family members anxiously recounted their last conversation, “They said they were leaving from Uttarkashi to Gangotri at around 8:30 am. The landslides occurred along that route. We haven’t been able to reach them since,” explained one relative. Even the Haridwar-based travel agency responsible for their 10-day tour has no information on the group’s whereabouts, with the breakdown of communication attributed to power outages, exhausted phone batteries, and the absence of a mobile network in the disaster-struck zone.
Mudslides leave trail of destruction
The destructive cloudburst on Tuesday afternoon struck Dharali, an ecologically sensitive region and an important stop on the pilgrimage to Gangotri. Torrential rains triggered massive mudslides that buried homes, hotels, and homestays under debris and slush, leaving at least four people confirmed dead so far. Officials estimate nearly half of Dharali has been submerged under mud and debris, complicating rescue operations.
Search and rescue efforts intensify
Rescue operations are in full swing, led by the Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, and SDRF teams, but efforts remain hindered by washed-out roads and collapsed bridges. Over 130 people have been rescued from Dharali so far, but more than 100, among them the Kerala tourist group, are still unaccounted for. Authorities are working around the clock, with the Disaster Operations Station in Dehradun providing continuous assistance.
State and national response
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has visited Uttarkashi to oversee relief operations, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured all possible support. A red alert remains in effect for the region as inclement weather continues, and helpline numbers have been issued for concerned families.
Ongoing uncertainty
As heavy rains continue to batter Uttarakhand and rescue personnel battle treacherous conditions, the families of the missing tourists, and many others affected, await news, hoping for a breakthrough in the search and rescue efforts.