NATURE'S FURY TURNS DEADLY

THE HILLS HAVE AGAIN ERUPTED IN FURY. On August 5, torrential rain over the high-altitude Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand triggered landslides and flash floods, swelling the Kheer Ganga, which then hurtled down its course, freighted with a mass of debris made of boulders, vegetation and mud loosened from surrounding mountains.

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This cascading, frothing wall of sludge slammed into Dharali village around 1.50 pm, engulfing houses, hotels and vehicles, smothering many souls. Further downstream, Harsil, then Sukki, stood in its destructive path. Over 100 people were missing at last count, including 10 Indian army soldiers from their camp in Harsil. However, scores were saved by rescue operations mounted by personnel of the army, the state disaster response force, the