Heavy Rains Cause Landslides, Hampering Rescue in Northern India, Dozens Missing

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Heavy rains have made rescue operations challenging in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India. The Indian army reports that the number of people missing remains unknown, while roads to impacted areas have either collapsed or are obstructed by debris. Rescue teams from the military and disaster response units faced difficulty reaching Dharali, a scenic stopover before ascending to Gangotri, as landslides blocked the main highway amid ongoing heavy rainfall.

Harshavardhan, a colonel leading the rescue efforts, stated, “The number of missing persons isn’t known at this time, but relief efforts have persisted throughout the night. Our goal is to rescue and evacuate anyone in danger.” Local authorities confirmed that access remains limited due to roads caved in or buried under boulders, complicating assistance efforts. Communication has also been disrupted as many mobile towers and power lines were swept away by floodwaters; satellite phones are now being used by rescue workers.

At Harsil, approximately 4 kilometers from Dharali, an army camp was struck by flash floods, resulting in the disappearance of eleven personnel. In response, additional army units, tracking dogs, drones, and earthmoving equipment have been dispatched to Harsil to speed up rescue operations. By Tuesday night, around 130 individuals had been rescued, according to Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who mentioned that army helicopters remain ready to deliver supplies to stranded residents.

Footage showed floodwaters and mud rushing down mountain slopes, devastating the village by destroying homes and roads as residents scrambled to escape. A video shared by the state government indicates that a mudslide buried parts of Dharali village. Uttarakhand is historically vulnerable to floods and landslides, a pattern many attribute to climate change.