'A lot of people lost their lives': Uttarkashi disaster survivor

Rescue operations are continuing for the third consecutive day in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district after a devastating cloudburst triggered flash floods in the high-altitude villages of Dharali and Harsil. As rescue forces work to extricate the stranded, survivors are beginning to share their harrowing experiences.

By Friday afternoon, a total of 566 people had been evacuated from the affected areas, with rescue personnel still working to reach an estimated 300 individuals who remain stranded. At least five people have been reported dead, and 50 are still missing.

Survivors Describe a "Gory Picture"

Helicopters are playing a crucial role in the rescue mission, flying from the Matli helipad to the disaster-hit regions of Dharali and Harsil. Those rescued are being brought to the helipad before arrangements are made for their onward travel.

Among those rescued was a Dehradun resident named Pooja, who had been visiting her parents for Rakshabandhan with her two children. After being airlifted to safety, she told ANI, "The situation there is bad... A lot of people there lost their lives." A senior citizen from Gujarat, Bharat Bhai, was also rescued after being stranded for five days while on the Char Dham Yatra.

Survivors described the sheer force of the floods, with one victim telling ANI, "Our house got washed away. All our things were in it... Everything is gone. We just ran to save our lives..." The remains of an army camp in Harsil, which was swept away, paint a "gory picture" of the disaster's scale.

Search for Missing Continues

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is actively involved in the search and rescue efforts, deploying advanced equipment, including victim locating and thermal imaging cameras, as well as specialized dog squads.

While mobile network connectivity has been restored in the Harsil valley, the landslides have severely disrupted the Char Dham Yatra, leaving many pilgrims stranded and complicating relief efforts. The authorities are focused on rescuing all remaining individuals and assessing the full extent of the destruction caused by the floods.