NEW DELHI: Drone footage from Dharali in Uttarakhand has laid bare the massive destruction caused by cloudburst and mudslide that left at least five dead and over 50 missing. The aerial visuals show collapsed multi-storey buildings, debris-choked riverbanks, and vast stretches of the town submerged under thick layers of mud, up to 50 feet deep in some places.The Army, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF and other agencies are relying heavily on drones to assess the worst-hit zones and locate survivors. “Additional army columns, along with tracker dogs, drones, logistic drones and earthmoving equipment have been deployed,” the Army said in a statement.The drone shots offer a bird’s-eye view of the disaster’s scale, revealing roads ripped apart and houses flattened beyond recognition. Rescue workers can be seen as small specks navigating unstable terrain, manually clearing rubble and searching for signs of life.The torrent was triggered by an intense cloudburst, which climate experts say is part of a worrying trend. With communication lines down and heavy rains continuing, drones have become the eyes of the rescue teams. “They help us identify isolated survivors and guide ground teams through inaccessible terrain,” a senior NDRF official said.The visuals are also being used to direct helicopter missions dropping essential supplies, as many areas remain cut off. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said rescue work is ongoing “on a war footing,” and the focus remains on locating the missing and restoring connectivity.
