From tears to relief: Nepali father reunites with son in Harshil, 43 still missing, mostly from Nepal
In flood-hit Dharali, a Nepali father found his missing son after days of despair. As search operations continue, the Uttarakhand government has released a list of 43 missing people, including many Nepali workers who were in the village during the disaster.
Uttarkashi: The flash flood that devastated Dharali village in Uttarkashi on August 5 has left behind stories of heartbreak, survival, and hope. Many people have been missing since this disaster struck Bhagirathi valley. The Uttarakhand government has issued a list of 43 missing people on Monday.
Among them is the emotional reunion of Lalmani Adhikari, a Nepali-origin resident of Tehri district, with his missing son—one of the few moments of relief in a tragedy that has claimed lives, homes, and livelihoods.
It felt like I had found my lost world
Lalmani had lost contact with his son after the disaster struck. With no news and mounting fear, he called the emergency helpline 112, reporting that his son was in the Harshil-Dharali area during the flood. The police responded swiftly. Police officers at the Harshil Police Help Desk traced the young man and connected him with his family. When Lalmani heard his son’s voice, tears welled up. "It felt like I had found my lost world,” he said, thanking the police for their timely help.
But not all families have been as fortunate
As of August 11, the Uttarakhand government released a list of 43 missing persons from the Dharali disaster. These include 13 locals, 9 army personnel, 13 workers from Bihar, 6 from Uttar Pradesh, and 2 others. The number of missing Nepali workers has been revised from 29 to 24, as five have been traced and confirmed safe.
Missing Nepalis were seasonal laborers
Many of the missing Nepalis were seasonal laborers from Jajarkot and Bardiya districts, deployed in Dharali for road and bridge construction or apple harvesting. The disaster struck during lunch hour, leaving little time for escape. A couple from Nepal, Kali Devi and Vijay Singh, recalled their son’s final phone call before he went missing. "He said, ‘Papa, we won’t survive. There’s too much water in the drain,’” Singh told reporters.
Another young Nepali boy, Sushil Singh, received a desperate call from his father, who was buried under debris. "Save me, son. I’m half buried,” his father pleaded. Sushil rushed to Dharali but has yet to find his father, uncle, and brother-in-law. He continues to search, sleeping in orchards and wandering between villages. "My entire family is gone. I don’t know what to do,” he said.
Flood wiped out 25 homestays, 35 hotels, and 35 homes
The scale of destruction is immense. Within minutes, the flood wiped out 25 homestays, 35 hotels, and 35 homes. Survivors described it as a "deluge of destruction.” Videos from Mukhba village show priests blowing whistles to warn Dharali residents seconds before the flood hit. One of those priests, Harish Nautiyal, filmed the disaster from across the valley. His footage was the first to reach the district administration.
CM Dhami has announced Rs 5 lakh in aid for families who lost homes or loved ones
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced Rs 5 lakh in aid for families who lost homes or loved ones. He also pledged to donate one month’s salary to the victims. The IAS Association, Punjab National Bank, and Bank of Baroda have each contributed Rs 1 crore to the relief fund. Along with this, a three-member committee has been formed to assess the rehabilitation package. Led by Revenue Secretary Dr. Surendra Narayan Pandey, the team includes Ashish Kumar Chauhan (CEO, UCADA) and Himanshu Khurana (Additional Secretary, Finance). They are expected to submit a preliminary report within a week and a final report in a month.
The area once known as Dharali Bazaar is now a mound of debris. Rescue teams are digging through rubble as deep as 60 feet. Experts say technology cannot reach those buried so deep, making manual digging the only option.