When Amit Semwal, 31, received a phone call on Tuesday afternoon, he was about 20 km away from his home in the mountain village of Mukhba. The caller's voice panicked, something terrible was happening in nearby Dharali. Within minutes, news of a sudden and devastating flash flood began to spread. Mukhba, located just 200 metres from Dharali but across the hill, soon became the vantage point from which horrifying visuals of the flash flood spread across social media. Semwal managed to reach close to Dharali, but the final 20 metres proved impossible as the road was submerged and the area was dangerously unstable.

"I stood there, shouting their names, trying to call them again and again. But no one picked up. And now, none of their phones are reachable. I don't know if they're alive... I don't know what to think anymore. It's like they've vanished," Amit told TOI, struggling to hold back emotion.

Most of those in Dharali at the time of the flood, he said, were his closest friends. He listed their names one by one, as if holding onto each one helps keep their memory alive: Akash Panwar (30), Vinay (31), Shubham (26), Sourabh (30), Aneesh (23), Kanti (32), Dhani (31) and Tanishq (23).

"I have heard that Akash's body was found in the debris but for the others, there's been no word," Amit said. He added, "These are not just names. These are my people: my brothers, my childhood friends. We grew up together, celebrated festivals together and shared dreams. And now I don't know if I'll ever see them again."

Each of the missing men, he said, worked hard to make a life in their village. Some grew apples, some ran small shops, others operated homestays for tourists. "They were building something here, something rooted, something hopeful," Amit said.

On Wednesday, he tried once again to make his way to Dharali. But relentless rain and rising water levels forced him to turn back. The terrain was too dangerous, the risk of further landslides too great.

Amit, who has a diploma in civil engineering and runs an NGO to support those in need, said he is used to helping others through difficult times. But now, he feels powerless. "I have always believed in doing my bit for society. But right now, I feel helpless. All I can do is wait and hope that I get to see my friends again," he said.