With Villages Erased and Brave Army Troops Feared Missing, a Resilient Nation Rallies to Mount a Massive Rescue Effort, Echoing The Tragic Lessons of 2013.
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, August 6, 2025: Once again, the mountains of Uttarakhand have sobbed tears of immense anguish. Two devastating cloudbursts in Uttarkashi district, one in Dharali and the other in Sukhi Top, created flash floods and mudslides that destroyed homes, businesses, and peace in only a few seconds. The market area in Dharali village, which used to be very active, has been “completely swept away.” Officials are terrified that this sudden, horrible catastrophe has killed hundreds of people
A Race Against Time to Save Lives
In a race against time, a multi-agency rescue effort has begun in the face of unspeakable carnage. Teams from the Indian Army, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have saved more than 130 persons so far.
The tragedy has impacted our military extremely close to home. The Defense PRO has confirmed that the base of the 14 Rajput Rifles has been badly destroyed, and sadly, 11 of its brave troops are missing. Colonel Harshvardhan’s troops are still doing their duty, even if this is a horrible setback. The Indian Army’s Ibex Brigade is also there, working around the clock to recover survivors. Ajay Bhatt, a member of the BJP, has also reported that four troops are missing in the Harsil area. Rescue personnel are working all day and night to find them.
The leaders of the country are with the people.
The country’s leaders have acted fast and carefully. Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to check on things himself. Later, he offered his condolences on “X” and told the state that the Center would fully support it. Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, also swiftly sent out teams from the NDRF and ITBP.
CM Dhami is in charge of the command center in Dehradun and is working with high-ranking officials. He recently come back from Andhra Pradesh. He praised the Center for its cooperation and stressed that the government would be there for the victims. He wants to get the power and internet back up and running so families can get back in touch and help can get to those who need it the most.
The tragedy is getting worse and worse.
The first reports are horrible because they show how severe the situation is. According to Mohsen Shahedi, a DIG with the NDRF, 40 to 50 homes have been damaged and more than 50 people are missing in the Harsil area alone. The roads are blocked and the phone lines are down, so it’s still hard to get a clear picture. Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, a member of parliament from Tehri Garhwal, has said that the event could be “even bigger than the 2013 disaster.” This is a sad thought that weighs hard on the country.
But there is still hope. At Chandigarh Air Base, the Indian Air Force has helicopters ready to go, notably the powerful Chinook and Mi-17. They are completely stocked with supplies and can leave as soon as the weather clears. The valiant work of the rescue teams, who had to contend with muck, rubble, and darkness, illustrates how strong a nation can be when it needs help.