NEW DELHI: At least 68 people remain missing a week after a devastating flood swept through the Himalayan town of Dharali in Uttarakhand, India.
With four confirmed deaths already reported, officials estimate the total fatalities from the August 5 disaster to be over 70.
Survivors captured harrowing videos of a powerful surge of muddy water destroying multi-storey buildings. Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage using sniffer dogs and ground-penetrating radar, but progress has been hindered by damaged roads and disrupted communications.
Among the missing are 44 Indians, 22 Nepalis and nine soldiers. The initial missing count exceeded 100, but verification efforts have refined the list.
Such floods and landslides are common during the monsoon season, but experts warn that climate change, combined with poorly planned development, is increasing their frequency and severity. Scientists believe intense rains likely caused debris collapse from a rapidly melting glacier, exacerbating the disaster.
The melting of Himalayan glaciers, vital water sources for nearly two billion people, is accelerating due to global warming, increasing the risk of landslides and other hazards linked to permafrost thaw.
Comment