3 months on, disaster-hit Dharali still awaits relief & rehab

Uttarkashi: Three months after debris came crashing down the Kheer Gad stream in Uttarkashi's Dharali village, the once-bustling settlement continues to remain buried under 20-25 ft of silt and rubble. The landscape was obliterated on Aug 5 with homes, hotels, resorts, and shops flattened, yet not a single rehabilitation or safety measure has begun. "The debris lies untouched," said local resident Sachendra Panwar.

Villagers said there is no trace of the approximately 60 people who went missing in the flash flood, despite extensive search operations by the Army, ITBP, SDRF and NDRF. In Uttarkashi, 12 of the missing have been officially declared dead, but with no bodies handed over, families continue to dig through the debris in search of their loved ones.

Komal Negi, who lost her husband in the disaster, said she still visits the site every few days. "It's been three months since the disaster, and I lost my husband. I still wait for some news. Whenever I go to Dharali, the debris stirs a hope that something might be found," she told TOI.

Those declared dead include Dharali residents Mukesh Panwar, Vijita Devi, Aneek Panwar, Shubham Negi, Gaurav Panwar, Sumit Negi and Dhanendra Panwar; Ganeshpur resident Surendra Singh Rana; Sukvir Lal from Kamar village; and Lodara residents Lokendra Singh Chauhan, Dhanveer Singh and Sobit Panwar.

Rajat Panwar, another Dharali resident, said people are also searching for remnants of their homes or belongings in the debris. "Earlier, people would migrate to the city during winter, but this time, after the disaster, most are still here, searching for their loved ones," he said.

Those who were evacuated have returned and are trying to rebuild from what little remains. The worst-hit, however, are the shopkeepers and families who lived in the main market that was completely wiped out. The state govt had provided Rs 5 lakh compensation, but the survivors said the amount was not adequate given the scale of destruction.

With temperatures dropping and snowfall expected soon, villagers fear that rebuilding efforts will now become impossible. They have instead demanded relocation and submitted a list of six possible sites, including Bhairoghati, Kopang, Jangla, Dabrani, Ongi and forest department land in Akhod Thatar between Bhaironghati and Lanka, for the administration to consider. They have also warned of a protest if rehabilitation and safety work do not begin soon.

Uttarkashi additional district magistrate Mukta Mishra said the proposed sites are being verified by the relevant departments. "Protection work, including building retaining walls, will be carried out by the irrigation department and will begin soon," he said.

As official help remains slow, a local NGO, Himalayan Paryavaran Jadibooti Agro Sansthan, has stepped in with the ‘Dharali Livelihood Restoration Mission', offering rock-climbing training to affected youth -- both to support their mental well-being after the disaster and to equip them with employable skills.