Indian military looks for scores gone missing following fatal Himalayan flood
(MENAFN) The Indian army deployed sniffer dogs, drones, and heavy machinery on Wednesday to locate dozens of people missing after deadly flash floods swept through the Himalayan town of Dharali in Uttarakhand state. At least four fatalities have been confirmed, and more than 50 individuals remain unaccounted for following a wall of water and debris that tore through the narrow mountain valley.
Experts warned that climate change is intensifying the severity and frequency of such disasters, which are common during the June-to-September monsoon season. Torrential rains have hindered rescue operations, with communication lines damaged and roads washed away. Initial reports had estimated around 100 missing, but numbers were revised as stranded residents were rescued.
“The search for the missing is ongoing,” said Mohsen Shahedi of the National Disaster Response Force. Video footage showed waves of muddy water destroying multi-story buildings and sweeping away residents. Among the missing are more than 50 people in Dharali and 11 soldiers from nearby Harsil.
The army reported that additional personnel, tracker dogs, drones, and earth-moving equipment were being deployed to accelerate the rescue, while helicopters delivered supplies and evacuated stranded individuals despite poor weather conditions.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the event as a severe “cloudburst” and said rescue efforts were underway “on a war footing.” Eyewitnesses recounted the flood’s terrifying force, with debris and water uprooting entire buildings.
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