Kochi: A group of 28 tourists, all Keralites, has been reported missing following a devastating cloudburst in Uttarakhand that caused large-scale mudslides, concerned family members said on Wednesday.

According to relatives, 20 of the missing individuals are originally from Kerala but are now residing in Maharashtra. The remaining eight are from different parts of Kerala.

One woman, whose relatives are part of the group, told the media that the last contact was made by the couple’s son a day before the disaster.

“They said they were leaving from Uttarkashi to Gangotri at around 8.30 am that day. The landslides occurred along that route. We have been unable to contact them since they left,” she said.

She also mentioned that the travel agency based in Haridwar, which organised the 10-day trip, has not been able to provide any information on the group’s status.

“Their phones may have run out of battery by now. There is no mobile network in that region currently,” she added.

The cloudburst, which struck the Dharali region on Tuesday afternoon, has already claimed four lives, officials confirmed. Dharali, located in an ecologically sensitive zone, was hit by a powerful mudslide consisting of debris, slush and water, submerging almost half the village.

Dharali is a major waypoint on the journey to Gangotri, the sacred origin of the Ganga River, and is home to many lodges and guesthouses frequently used by pilgrims and tourists.