Uttarakhand hotel owner recalls horror as floods swept away his property

In Uttarakhand’s Dharali village, a devastating cloudburst caused flash floods and mudslides on Tuesday, sweeping away buildings and vehicles. Among the destroyed structures was a four-storey, 40-room hotel owned by Jai Bhagwan, who was lucky to escape the tragedy because he had gone to a nearby temple to take part in a local festival. The incident has left behind a trail of destruction, with over 50 people missing and rescue operations still ongoing.

Bhagwan recalled the terrifying experience in a conversation with The Indian Express. He said the day started as usual, with very few tourists in the area due to the ongoing monsoon. Normally, his hotel would be full during the Char Dham yatra season, but it remained empty that day. Since no guests arrived, Bhagwan took the opportunity to visit a temple near the market area to celebrate a local festival.

He said that around 1:40 pm, there was a sudden loud noise, followed by panic among the people nearby. “There was a thunderous sound, and then I heard people screaming from the nearby village. They were whistling too, but we had no idea what was happening,” he said. What followed was a terrifying scene — huge waves of water, mud, and rocks rushed down, destroying everything in their path.

After realising that something serious was happening, Bhagwan rushed towards his home. But by the time he reached, the water had already entered the area. He then walked to Harsil village in search of safety.

Later, he saw a video of the disaster in which his hotel was being washed away by the powerful mudslide. “In the video, my hotel is seen flowing away. It was a 40-room hotel, but it flowed away like a leaf,” Bhagwan said. Fortunately, none of his hotel staff, including his nephew who helps manage the hotel, were present during the tragedy.

He added that the low number of tourists due to the monsoon season probably helped reduce the number of casualties in the area. “In other months, my hotel is always full during the Char Dham yatra. Thankfully, this time it was mostly empty,” he said.

Rescue efforts continue as many remain missing

Since the incident, rescue teams from various forces — including the SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, the Army, and the local administration — have been working day and night to find those who are still missing. The third day of rescue operations began on Thursday. So far, 190 people have been rescued, including 11 army personnel. However, over 50 people are still missing in the affected areas.

Gambhir Chauhan, head of the NDRF North India Command, said dog squads and veterinary doctors are also being sent to the disaster-hit zone to assist in rescue and relief work. He mentioned that satellite phones are being provided to improve communication, which has become a major challenge due to damaged infrastructure.

“This was a massive tragedy. We are working together with all agencies to save as many lives as possible,” Chauhan said in a statement to PTI. Roads and bridges in the region have been damaged, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach certain areas quickly.

The flash floods and mudslides have left the residents of Dharali and surrounding areas in shock. Many people have lost their homes and businesses. Officials are urging locals to stay alert and follow safety guidelines as more rainfall is expected in the coming days.

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The tragedy has once again highlighted the vulnerability of mountain regions during the monsoon season, where sudden cloudbursts can cause severe damage in a matter of minutes. It has also brought attention to the need for better disaster preparedness and early warning systems in the hill states.

As rescue and relief work continues, the state government and disaster response teams are working on restoring communication and providing medical help to the injured. The affected families are being shifted to safer locations and relief camps are being set up to provide food, shelter, and medical care.

For survivors like Jai Bhagwan, the experience is still difficult to process. “I still can’t believe that my hotel is gone. Everything I built over the years disappeared in just a few minutes,” he said, holding back tears.

While the region slowly begins to recover, the focus remains on saving lives and helping the survivors rebuild.