A peaceful Himalayan tour turned into a nightmare for 28 Kerala natives, now missing after a devastating cloudburst triggered deadly landslides in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. The tourists, part of a 10-day trip organized by a Haridwar-based travel agency, had last contacted their families on Tuesday morning, saying they were en route from Uttarkashi to Gangotri around 8:30 AM. The region, known for its treacherous terrain and ecological fragility, was soon hit by torrential rain that led to flash floods and massive mudslides. Families say all contact has been lost since, and there is no mobile network in the area. Many fear the worst, as rescue teams continue to battle harsh conditions to locate survivors.
According to relatives, 20 of the missing tourists originally hail from Kerala but have been settled in Maharashtra, while the remaining 8 are from different districts in Kerala. The relatives shared that the couple’s son last spoke to them just hours before disaster struck. The travel agency too remains in the dark, unable to trace the group’s location. With roads blocked and communication lines down, officials say access to the affected region is severely limited. Dharali village, a prominent stop on the route to Gangotri, bore the brunt of the mudslide — half of it now buried under slush and debris. Emergency services are working around the clock, although poor weather conditions continue to hamper progress.
As of Wednesday afternoon, at least five bodies have been recovered from the landslide-hit area, and a red alert remains in place across several districts of Himachal and Uttarakhand. The Uttarkashi region, nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, is prone to cloudbursts during the monsoon season, but the intensity of this week’s storm has shocked even experienced local officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, assuring all possible support. Meanwhile, desperate families await news, praying for the safety of their loved ones in one of the worst natural disasters to hit the region this year.
