The Uttarakhand government has established a three-member committee to evaluate the extensive damage caused by the recent disaster in Dharali, a village in Uttarkashi that was struck by a destructive mudslide and flash floods. The panel is composed of Revenue Secretary Surendra Pandey, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority CEO Ashish Chauhan, and Additional Finance Secretary Himanshu Khurana. Their mandate includes conducting a comprehensive survey to assess losses to houses, agricultural land, farms, and public infrastructure within the affected zone. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has stated that the committee will present its preliminary findings within one week.
Beyond the immediate damage assessment, the panel has been tasked with preparing a long-term action plan to ensure the safety of Dharali’s residents and to secure sustainable means of livelihood for the community in the years to come. This step aligns with the government’s broader commitment to fostering resilience and stability in disaster-prone regions. The formation of the committee follows the near completion of rescue and relief operations in Dharali, where the calamity obliterated much of the bazaar area, demolishing hotels and homestays and leaving a landscape of ruin.
The disaster, which struck on Tuesday, has resulted in the confirmed deaths of five people, while 100 others remain missing, according to an Indian Army statement issued on August 8. In the past five days, helicopters from the Indian Air Force and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority have conducted 257 sorties, successfully airlifting 1,126 stranded residents and tourists to safer locations. Chief Minister Dhami noted via social media that both local inhabitants and visiting devotees from other states were evacuated safely through coordinated relief efforts.
Efforts to restore connectivity and basic services are underway. Construction of a Bailey bridge at Limchigad near Gangnani is progressing urgently to re-establish road access, though the Gangotri highway remains obstructed or damaged in several locations. These blockages are delaying the transport of advanced search equipment critical for locating those buried under the massive debris. Meanwhile, electricity and mobile network services are being gradually reinstated, and community kitchens continue to distribute essential supplies—such as food, rations, emergency lighting, clothing, and other necessities—to families affected by the disaster.
