Mumbai: At least 151 tourists from Maharashtra have been stranded in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand after heavy landslides and flash floods cut off access to the remote Dharali region. Of these, 120 have been located and are reported safe at an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp, while 31 remain uncontactable, including 12 from Mumbai’s suburban areas.
Details On Missing Tourists From Maharashtra
The missing tourists hail from various parts of the state, including Thane (5), Solapur (4), Ahilyanagar (1), Nashik (4), Malegaon (3), Charkop-Kandivali (6), Mumbai suburbs (6) and Titwala (2), reported PTI. Search and rescue operations are underway, but poor weather and disrupted communication have hampered efforts.
Maharashtra's Efforts To Rescue Citizens
Maharashtra chief secretary Rajesh Kumar spoke to his Uttarakhand counterpart Anand Bardhan on Friday, stressing the need to intensify rescue and evacuation efforts. Uttarakhand officials informed him that thick cloud cover and damaged mobile networks were making it difficult to establish contact with the missing tourists. Many of them may also be facing mobile battery issues, further complicating communication.
In a major development, satellite phones have now been activated in the region to restore basic connectivity. Rescue teams, working alongside Uttarakhand’s disaster management department, are also coordinating with the Department of Telecommunications to track the last known locations of the missing individuals. Plans are being prepared for an airlift operation if conditions permit.
Maha Minister Girish Mahajan In Dehradun
Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan has reached Dehradun to personally monitor the relief and evacuation operations. The Maharashtra state disaster control room in Mumbai is maintaining constant coordination with Uttarakhand authorities, the National Emergency Response Centre, and district officials in Uttarkashi. Their aim is to ensure the quick tracing of the missing tourists and provide regular updates to concerned families back home.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is closely monitoring the situation. He has instructed officials to make arrangements for special flights or trains to bring back the stranded tourists once weather conditions improve and road or air access is restored.
The situation in Uttarkashi remains challenging, with continued rainfall and unstable slopes posing risks of further landslides. Relief teams are focusing on ensuring the safety of those already located while expanding the search for those still missing.
