In the quiet mountain village of Dharali in Uttarkashi, moments before a wall of water, mud, and debris tore through on August 5, 55-year-old Laxman was on a phone call with his son. His last words — a desperate “bachao, bachao” followed by a whispered “Hari Om” — still echo in his son Govind’s mind. Then, the line went dead.

Six days later, the search and rescue operation continues, with only two bodies recovered so far. Authorities estimate around 60 people remain missing.

At Matli Helipad — Hope and Desperation

On Sunday, the Matli helipad, about 30 km from Dharali, buzzed with activity — tourists evacuated from Gangotri, officials loading helicopters with food supplies, and families pleading for a seat on rescue flights to reach their loved ones. The roar of choppers briefly overpowered the Bhagirathi River rushing nearby.

Rescue officers, stretched thin, told waiting families that professionals were already at the site. “What will you do even if we take you? Will you dig with your bare hands?” one official asked, met with silent resignation.

Among those waiting was Govind, who works in Rishikesh and whose father Laxman was inside a building swallowed by debris. “Even if it changes nothing, we need closure,” he said.

Nearby stood Mohammad Ufran from Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district. His brother Furkan and cousin Salman were last seen in Dharali, where they worked as welders. They had gone to the village to buy supplies when the flood struck. Blocked roads, landslides, and failed attempts to hitchhike have not deterred Ufran. “If the government doesn’t take us by chopper, we’ll go on foot,” he vowed.

No Word, Only Rumors

For 21-year-old Govind Kumar from Bijnor, the wait has been agonizing. His brother Yogesh, also a welder, was with Furkan and Salman that day. Kumar briefly felt hope after spotting Yogesh’s name on a rescued list — but a call revealed it was another man with a similar name.

Others, like Dilip Singh from Surkhet, Nepal, have already accepted the worst. Singh believes his brother Karan, a mason in Dharali, was in a hotel seen being swept away in a video. “We think he is gone,” Singh said quietly.

A Race Against Time

Survivors and families alike express frustration over the pace of the rescue. “If the government wanted, it could have been done in two days,” Ufran said. “No one can survive under 50 feet of debris for six days.”

Late in the afternoon, a possible lead emerged — a call to Kumar suggested that a man matching Salman’s description had been moved to the Army helipad in Chinyalisaur. Without wasting a moment, Ufran set off to find out if it was true.

For now, hope and grief continue to share space on the helipad, as the helicopters lift into the sky toward a disaster-scarred valley.

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