Loud sounds and clouds of dust: Villagers recount horror of Uttarakhand flood disaster

The concrete bridge was washed away like a paper boat. The windows of our homes rattled, say villagers

“It is a miracle that I am alive. I was tossed aside by the impact of the landslide,” Godambari Devi, a resident of this remote village in Chamoli district.

However, Godambari’s mother-in-law Amrita Devi was not that lucky. The 72-year-old Amrita was grazing goats a few metres ahead and was crushed under the debris.

Also Read | 197 persons missing, 20 dead in Uttarakhand flood: Home Minister Amit Shah

As Godambari regained her senses, massive boulders, trees and a sea of soil moved with immense force through the Rishiganga river washing away with it a concrete bridge that connected another village on the adjacent mountain.

Godambari’s son Gaurav, who was nearby, narrowly missed being hit by a four-wheeler that was thrown up in the air due to the impact.

Photo of Godambari Devi. Credit: DH Photo/Sagar Kulkarni

"There was a lot of sound and suddenly everything was covered in clouds of dust," Jhooti Devi, a local resident, said.

The 13.4 MW Rishiganga Hydel Power Project situated near the village was also destroyed.

“The concrete bridge was washed away like a paper boat. The windows of our homes rattled,” said Devki Devi, also a resident of the village situated on the mountain slopes.

It was in this village that Gaura Devi had launched the famous Chipko movement when local women hugged trees in a bid to prevent them from felling for development projects.

Gaura Devi’s son Chander Singh and his family shifted to a cow shelter about 800 meters away in the higher reaches of the mountain, fearing a repeat of Sunday’s landslide.

Rescue teams from the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have launched search and rescue operations.

Also Read | Ramchandra Guha's 6 lessons from the Uttarakhand floods

“We have been able to fish out four dead bodies from the debris,” Sher Singh Butola, Assistant Commandant, of the First Battalion of the ITBP said.

However, there is no sign of Amrita Devi or other locals who are feared to be trapped under the debris, yet.

Mamata Rana, 22, was alone at her home nestled in the upper regions of the mountain ranges when the landslide struck.

“I do not want to stay here anymore. Our house is situated on rocks and you never know when the tragedy can strike again,” Rana said adding that it would be better if the government re-settles the village someplace safer.

The village faced the brunt of floods in 2016 as well and the Rishi Ganga Project too was damaged leading to stoppage of power