Uttarkashi: A pre-dawn landslide triggered by a cloudburst killed two laborers and left seven missing near Silai Bend on Yamunotri National Highway early Sunday. The disaster struck a labor camp at approximately 1 am, 5 km past Paligad in Barkot tehsil, where 29 workers were sheltering. Twenty were safely evacuated before rescue operations began.
District Magistrate Prashant Kumar Arya confirmed to press: “Two bodies recovered from debris have been identified as Duje Lal (55, UP’s Pilibhit) and Keval Bisht (43, Nepal). Seven remain missing.” The missing include four Nepali nationals Roshan Chaudhary (37), Anveer Dhami (40), Kalluram Chaudhary (60), Manish Dhami (32) and Dehradun residents Jaychand alias Bobby (38), Chhotu (22), and Priyansh (22).
Rescue teams from NDRF, SDRF, and local police are searching “at war footing,” Arya stated. The landslide washed away 10 meters of highway, halting Char Dham pilgrims at secure locations. BRO and National Highway Authority crews have deployed five JCBs and Poclain machines for restoration.
“This was previously a safe zone no prior incidents,” Arya emphasized, noting ADM Mukta Mishra and Barkot SDM Brijesh Tiwari are overseeing operations. The disaster follows a June 23 landslide on the Yamunotri trek that left two dead and two missing.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed accelerated search efforts during a Dehradun review meeting, reiterating: “20 rescued safely, recovery operations ongoing.”