Manjeet Negi brings Uttarkashi’s flood tragedy to light with gritty ground reporting

A sudden cloudburst on August 5 triggered a devastating flash flood in Dharali and Harsil villages of Uttarkashi district, unleashing a torrent of debris that left at least four people dead and many others missing, with some estimates placing the number above 100. The deluge swept away hotels, resorts, shops, and homes, leaving both villages buried under layers of mud and rubble.

AajTak’s Executive Defence Editor Manjeet Negi braved perilous conditions to reach the disaster-hit areas, drawing chilling parallels to the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy. Trekking through the night, he arrived in Harsil on August 6 and reported from above the damaged army camp and helipad, where soldiers lay amid the wreckage. In Dharali, he documented overturned vehicles, submerged structures, and mess halls and kitchens buried under debris.

The calamity also damaged a section of the Harsil Army camp, with several soldiers reported missing. Rescue operations, led by the Indian Army and disaster response teams, have been ongoing despite difficult terrain and adverse weather. Helicopter sorties have so far evacuated 78 people, while road connectivity has been partially restored after the Border Roads Organisation constructed a temporary bailey bridge at Limchigadh. The Public Works Department has reopened 243 of the 359 blocked roads, enabling shuttle services between Matli and Harsil to aid evacuations.

Medical relief efforts are being overseen by the state health secretary, with teams stationed round the clock at relief camps. Satellite imagery from ISRO has revealed that the Bhagirathi River’s course has shifted dramatically, with debris fields spanning over 20 hectares, raising concerns over long-term environmental risks and downstream erosion.

Negi’s on ground coverage has brought the scale of the disaster into sharp focus, highlighting both the urgency of relief efforts and the pressing need for better disaster preparedness in the fragile Himalayan region.