'Papa, We Won’t Survive': Nepali Couple Recalls Chat With Son Before Uttarkashi Flash Floods

Last Updated:August 07, 2025, 13:00 IST

Vijay Singh was part of a group of 26 labourers from Nepal working on road and bridge construction projects in the valley.

Houses buried under debris following flash floods triggered by a cloudburst, in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, Wednesday, Aug. 6. (PTI Photo)

Uttarkashi has been devastated after a sudden flash flood struck the Himalayan village of Dharali on August 5, leaving lives and properties damaged. As the rescue operation continues, migrant labourers Kali Devi and her husband, Vijay Singh, from Nepal recounted their harrowing experience, describing how they narrowly escaped the disaster that claimed many lives around them.

Singh recalled a tense and emotional two-minute phone call with his son, who was overwhelmed and helpless before going missing after a cloudburst triggered devastating flash floods and landslides in the valley.

“He told me, ‘Papa, we won’t survive; there’s a lot of water in the drain,’" Singh was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Singh was part of a group of 26 labourers from Nepal working on road and bridge construction projects in the valley.

“When we left the valley, we never thought that such a disaster would hit the region. Had I known about the impending floods, I would not have left my children behind," said Devi, who, along with her husband, trekked as far as Gangawadi—the route leading to Harsil Valley—but was forced to turn back after discovering that a crucial Border Roads Organisation bridge over the Bhagirathi River had been swept away by the floods.

“I appeal to the government to take us to Harsil Valley. We will find our children ourselves," she added.

As relief and rescue operations continue in Uttarkashi, authorities have so far rescued at least 70 civilians, while three fatalities have been confirmed.

According to the Indian Army, one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and eight soldiers remain missing. As part of the ongoing efforts, nine Army personnel and three civilians have been airlifted to Dehradun for further medical attention.

In addition, three critically injured civilians were rushed by ambulance to AIIMS Rishikesh, while eight others are receiving treatment at the District Hospital in Uttarkashi. The Army has also confirmed the recovery of two bodies from the affected area.

Location :

Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), India, India

First Published:

August 07, 2025, 13:00 IST

News india 'Papa, We Won’t Survive': Nepali Couple Recalls Chat With Son Before Uttarkashi Flash Floods

Read More