BRO Havaldar Pankaj Rudhaula’s Body Recovered 12 Days After Chamoli Flash Flood

Gopeshwar / Chamoli (Uttarakhand), August 22–23, 2026: The body of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Havaldar Pankaj Rudhaula was recovered on Saturday, 12 days after he went missing in a flash flood in Chamoli district’s Niti Valley sector. Police and rescue officials said his mortal remains were found near Bhalagaon on the banks of the Dhauliganga river after an extensive multi-agency search that had continued since the day of the incident.

Rudhaula, who was posted as a driver with the 123 unit associated with the 123 Border Roads Task Force, was swept away on the evening of August 10 when a sudden surge of water and debris struck the Tamak Nala near Long Segdi village in Jyotirmath tehsil. The flood also washed away a Bailey bridge built by the BRO over the nala on the strategically important Jyotirmath–Malari / Niti motor road.

Officials said heavy rainfall in the upper reaches of the Dhauliganga valley caused Tamak Nala to rise sharply, sending a powerful flow of water, boulders and debris through the area. The force of the flood destroyed the Bailey bridge at the site and also swept away a vehicle, described in some reports as a camper.

Rudhaula was near the location when the flood hit. Reports said he was either observing the rising waters or engaged in related work at the site before being caught in the torrent and going missing. The incident immediately triggered an emergency response in the remote border region.

The collapse of the bridge cut road access to about 12 to 17 villages in the Niti Valley, including Niti, Malari, Jumma, Dronagiri and Gamshali. These villages lie close to the India-China border and depend on the road for movement of people, supplies and official traffic. Vehicular movement towards the border area was suspended as a precaution.

With the route blocked, district authorities and the BRO moved quickly to restore limited connectivity. Using large concrete Hume pipes, they built a temporary alternative passage and managed to re-establish restricted movement within a day or two.

Niti Valley is a high-altitude and strategically sensitive area where the BRO’s road-building and maintenance work is critical not only for civilian access but also for military logistics along India’s northern frontier.

The August 10 flash flood

From the moment Rudhaula was reported missing, a coordinated search operation was launched and continued without interruption for nearly two weeks. Teams from Jyotirmath police, local police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), BRO personnel, the Indian Army’s Garhwal Rifles and associated units including Garhwal Scouts, as well as dog squads and drone operators, were deployed in the search.

The operation focused on Tamak Nala, its immediate surroundings and downstream stretches of the Dhauliganga river. Search teams used excavators and other heavy machinery to remove debris and large boulders, while drones scanned the terrain from above and trained dogs assisted ground teams in the steep and remote area. The work was carried out under difficult conditions, with residual flood risk, unstable slopes and limited access complicating the effort.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami monitored the situation and directed officials to intensify the search. He also assured Rudhaula’s family of all possible assistance. The District Magistrate of Pithoragarh, Rudhaula’s home district, remained in touch with the family and extended administrative support. Officials from the Uttarakhand Information Department and the district administration issued regular updates as the search continued on a war footing.

On Saturday, August 22, exactly 12 days after Rudhaula disappeared, his body was found near Bhalagaon, also referred to in some reports in connection with nearby Lata village, on the banks of the Dhauliganga river. Police, BRO personnel and other members of the search team reached the spot soon after the recovery. The intensive search operation was then brought to a close.

Search operation across difficult terrain

Pankaj Rudhaula was a resident of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand. As a driver in the BRO’s 123 unit, he was part of the organisation’s work on border infrastructure in one of India’s most difficult mountain environments. The BRO’s presence in Chamoli and adjoining districts is central to keeping roads open in terrain where weather, altitude and geography often make construction and maintenance hazardous.

The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by personnel working in Uttarakhand’s Himalayan belt, where monsoon-driven disasters such as flash floods, landslides and debris flows are common. The Tamak Nala incident is the latest example of how quickly mountain streams can become destructive during periods of intense rainfall, threatening both infrastructure and lives.

With the recovery of Rudhaula’s body, authorities have begun the formal procedures, including identification and further arrangements in coordination with the BRO and his family. The incident has also highlighted the scale of coordination required in disaster response in remote border areas, where local police, specialist rescue forces, the Army and the BRO often work together to manage emergencies.

Officials continue to monitor the weather and connectivity situation in the Niti Valley sector of Chamoli district.