Rescue efforts continued in India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Thursday as helicopters airlifted people stranded by devastating floods and landslides that struck nearly two days ago, killing at least four and leaving dozens missing.
Access to the village of Dharali in Uttarkashi district remained cut off, as collapsed roads and large boulders blocked rescue teams from reaching the area. A powerful surge of water had swept through the region, burying homes and vehicles under layers of mud and debris.
Drone footage showed excavators clearing rubble from roads damaged by landslides in nearby Bhatwadi village, as heavy rains triggered widespread destruction across the state on Tuesday, severely disrupting rescue operations.
According to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, helicopter rescue missions began Thursday morning in the worst-affected zones. “Heli-rescue operations have started in the affected areas,” he shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Visuals from the scene showed army personnel using both their hands and machinery to remove debris and clear paths that had turned into muddy, fast-flowing rivers.
Authorities confirmed that around 200 people were rescued on Tuesday and Wednesday, though many more remain unaccounted for. The remote village of Dharali, situated at over 1,150 meters above sea level, is a stop for Hindu pilgrims en route to the sacred town of Gangotri.
“We watched Dharali collapse before our eyes,” said Anamika Mehra, a pilgrim caught in the floods. “We were terrified, but locals and the army helped us the next day.”
Experts continue to link such disasters in Uttarakhand to the effects of climate change.
Due to rapid climate change, whole world is under impact just like GB Floods Where Homes Destroyed, Tourists Reported Missing
