In a somber development, two more bodies were retrieved from the debris of the Chenagad disaster zone in the Rudraprayag district, more than two months after the catastrophic event.
Our correspondent reports that the bodies were located on Friday during a search and clearance operation carried out by the district administration and emergency teams. The victims had been missing since the disaster struck, leaving families in anguish and hope.
Our correspondent adds that the recovery marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to clear the affected area and provide closure to relatives of the missing. Local officials stated that both bodies were found fully decomposed, and they have been sent for forensic examination and identification.
The Chenagad tragedy, which occurred in early August, saw enormous landslide activity followed by a sudden collapse of terrain, triggering massive debris flow and devastation in the valley. The exact number of missing has fluctuated over time, but extensive rescue and retrieval efforts have continued despite rugged terrain and monsoon runoff.
Rescue teams said that clearing the thick debris layer in the disaster-hit zone has been challenging. Officials explained that heavy rainfall, unstable slopes and shifting boulders have repeatedly hampered the search operations. Still, they affirmed that recovery remains a priority to ensure families receive closure and to prepare the area for restoration and rehabilitation.
The district administration has issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families and affirming that all possible efforts will be made to locate any remaining missing persons. Local authorities have also appealed to the public to come forward with any information regarding the missing to aid the search.
The two recent recoveries bring some relief amid the prolonged distress faced by the valley’s residents and highlight the frail nature of rescue efforts in high-altitude disaster zones. Experts say that while the pace of recoveries has slowed, the continuing operations underscore the state’s commitment to dealing with the aftermath of hill-zone tragedies comprehensively.
In the meantime, local officials have reiterated the need for enhanced early-warning systems, improved forest and slope management, and community-awareness initiatives on disaster risk in mountainous terrain. The Chenagad incident remains a stark reminder of the hazards in Uttarakhand’s fragile Himalayan environment.
