Landslide and Flood Situation in Dharali Area of Uttarkashi District; Maharashtra Tourists Safe, 11 Tourists in Harsil Airlifted

State Emergency Operations Centre Update

Mumbai, Aug 2025 : A severe landslide and flood situation in the Dharali area of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, left 172 tourists from various parts of Maharashtra stranded in the region. Contact has been established with 171 of them, all of whom are reported safe. Search operations are ongoing for one missing tourist, Mrs. Kritika Jain, and the State Emergency Operations Centre has issued alerts to Uttarakhand authorities.

Of the 171 tourists, 160 are currently safe at Matli (31), Jolly Grant (6), and Uttarkashi (123). These tourists have resumed their journeys as per their planned itineraries. Eleven tourists in Harsil are also safe, and as per a report from the Director (Disaster Management), Uttarakhand, airlifting operations for those in Harsil began at 6 a.m. today, with helicopters moving them to safer locations.

The Maharashtra State Disaster Control Room remains in constant touch with the Uttarakhand State Emergency Operations Centre, the Uttarkashi District Control Room, and the National Emergency Response Centre (NERC), New Delhi. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra is closely monitoring the situation. State Disaster Management and Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan has reached the incident site in Uttarkashi. The Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, along with the Additional Chief Secretary (Disaster Management, Relief & Rehabilitation Department), has reviewed the situation and requested Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan over phone to ensure assistance for stranded Maharashtra citizens.

In Dharali, rescue operations are being conducted by the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local rescue teams. While some communication lines have been restored, road connectivity remains disrupted. Efforts are underway to restore infrastructure. Satellite phones have been deployed through IG Police Rajeev Swaroop, who is in charge of disaster relief operations in Uttarakhand. The Army is also conducting short aerial reconnaissance and rescue missions.

The Maharashtra State Emergency Operations Centre is actively coordinating rescue efforts, updating information, and assisting the families of those affected.

Contact Numbers:

1. Maharashtra State Emergency Operations Centre – 9321587143 / 022-22027990 / 022-22794229
2. Dr. Bhalchandra Chavan, Director, Disaster Management Centre, Maharashtra – 9404695356
3. Uttarakhand State Emergency Operations Centre – 0135-2710334 / 8218867005
4. Prashant Arya, District Magistrate, Uttarkashi – 9412077500 / 8477953500
5. Meherban Singh (Coordination Officer) – 9412925666
6. Mukta Mishra, Assistant District Magistrate, Uttarkashi – 7579474740
7. Jai Panwar, Disaster Management Cell, Uttarakhand – 9456326641
8. Sachin Kurve (Coordination Officer) – 8445632319