On August 5, a sudden flood and landslide in Dharali village of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India, caused significant loss of life and property. Relief and rescue operations are still ongoing.
Kali Devi and her husband Bir Singh, who had gone there for labour, shared their terrifying experience of the flood with an Indian online media outlet. Although they managed to save their lives, they said many others, including Nepalis, were swept away by the flood.
Recalling the last two-minute phone call with his son, Singh says, “He told me, ‘Father, I don’t think we will survive; there is a big flood here.’”
Singh was part of a group of 26 Nepali workers engaged in road and bridge construction in India. They had left their son at the place they were working before going to work.
Devi says, “We never imagined such a huge disaster would strike by the time we left for work. If we had known in advance about the flood, I would not have left my children there.”
She appeals to the government to take them to the landslide-affected Harshil valley so that they can search for their children themselves.”
The Nepali address of Devi and Singh is unknown.
Although Indian media have identified Devi and Singh as Nepali citizens, their address in Nepal is not known.
According to Indian journalist Saurabh Sharma, who went to Uttarakhand for news coverage, they stated they are Nepali citizens. Sharma, who contacted Onlinekhabar, said he is trying to get more information about them.
Sharma shared a short video clip of a conversation with Devi on his Facebook Reels. In it, Devi said, “We were 26 Nepalis. My son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter were in that group. They all were swept away.”
Status of Nepalis
According to Nepalese officials, at least 17 Nepali citizens have so far been affected by the flood and landslide in Uttarakhand. Thirteen are from Jajarkot, four from Bardiya, and one from Jumla has been reported missing.
According to Harichandra Basnet, chairman of Kushe Rural Municipality in Jajarkot, Nepalis residing in Talegaun 2, namely Karna Bahadur Singh, Ram Bahadur Singh, Nim Singh, Robin Singh, and seven others whose identities are unknown, have been reported to be affected by the flood and landslide.
Similarly, Surendra Paudel, Chief District Officer, said Narendra Khadka, Saraswati Khadka, Amrita Pariyar, and Subas Bik from Madhuwan, Bardiya, are also missing after being caught in the flood.
Likewise, Janak Bahadur Shahi, resident of Tila Rural Municipality in Jumla, is reported missing due to a landslide, local representatives said.
Local municipalities have informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about Nepalis being casualties and requested efforts for their search and rescue.
Returning home today from a visit to Turkmenistan, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli posted on Facebook that diplomatic discussions have been held through the embassy to understand the condition of Nepalis and to rescue them.
According to Indian media, the flood, including the one at Gagrana, destroyed roads, bridges, and physical infrastructure. Hence, air rescue has become the only option. According to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, about 300 people have been airlifted from the affected areas.
In the ongoing rescue operation in Uttarkashi, at least 70 civilians have been rescued alive, and at least 6 bodies have been found. Indian officials estimate that about 150 people are still missing from the area.
According to the Indian Army, a junior commissioned officer and eight soldiers are missing. Nine injured soldiers and three civilians were airlifted to Dehradun, where they are receiving further treatment.
Additionally, three seriously injured civilians were taken by ambulance to AIIMS Rishikesh, and eight others are undergoing treatment at Uttarkashi district hospital.
