U'khand village gone in 34 sec

Over 140 rescued as search ops intensified in flash flood-devastated Harshil Valley

- NARENDRA SETHI @ Dehradun

DHARALI, a key stopover on the Gangotri Dham pilgrimage route, was completely devastated on Tuesday afternoon by a sudden surge of debris-laden water from the Khirganga River. The flash flood, carrying massive amounts of debris from the mountains, reportedly wiped out the entire village — market, houses, hotels, and all —in mere 34 seconds.

Besides Dharali, cloudbursts were also reported in Harsil and Sukki. In Harsil, nine out of eleven Army personnel who went missing after a cloudburst remain untraced. While authorities acknowledge the potential for a rising death toll, uncertainty persists more than 24 hours after the calamity.