A woman tourist from Maharashtra, Kritika Jain, remains missing following devastating landslides and flash floods that struck Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand, State Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan reported on Saturday. The disaster, triggered by a cloudburst in the Dharali region, has left roads destroyed and communication networks crippled, complicating rescue operations.

Of the 172 Maharashtra tourists stranded in the Dharali area, 171 have been contacted and confirmed safe, according to a statement from Mahajan’s office. Of these, 160 tourists are secure at various locations—31 in Matli, six in Jolly Grant, and 123 in Uttarkashi—and have resumed their journeys. The remaining 11, located in Harsil, are safe and scheduled for airlift evacuation on Saturday morning. However, Kritika Jain remains untraceable, with the Uttarakhand State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) tasked to lead an intensive search.

Mahajan is personally overseeing operations in Uttarkashi, coordinating with the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local teams. The Maharashtra SEOC is in constant communication with Uttarakhand authorities, the Uttarkashi district control room, and the National Emergency Response Centre in New Delhi to streamline rescue efforts. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is closely monitoring the situation, ensuring rapid response measures.

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The landslides have severely damaged infrastructure, with washed-out roads and disrupted mobile networks hindering contact with Jain. IGP Rajeev Swaroop has deployed satellite phones to aid coordination, and the Army is on high alert. Restoration of connectivity and infrastructure is underway, with 10 ITBP teams escorting stranded tourists to safety via helicopters, buses, or on foot from the Harsil helipad to Gangotri.

The disaster has raised concerns about safety in Uttarakhand’s ecologically fragile regions, with reports of 28 Kerala tourists, including 20 settled in Maharashtra, also feared missing after the cloudburst. The Maharashtra SEOC is providing updates to families and facilitating support, urging calm as rescue operations continue.

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