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4 dead, several missing in Uttarakhand cloudburst; villages washed away | Video
Several people were feared dead and at least 50 were missing after the cloudburst triggered flash floods in Uttarkashi's Dharali, reports said.
At least four people have died while many others are missing after a massive cloudburst triggered a flash flood in the Kheer Ganga river, causing large-scale destruction in Uttarakhand’s Dharali village.
The village is only one kilometre from Harsil on the Gangotri highway, a key pilgrimage route to Gangotri Dham.
The flash flood, which struck around 1:40pm on Tuesday, sent a sudden surge of boulders, debris, and mud sweeping through the area, demolishing houses, shops, homestays, and hotels. Follow Uttarkashi cloudburst live updates
Eyewitnesses and officials described the incident as reminiscent of the 2021 Chamoli disaster, in which more than 200 people had died.
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District Disaster Management Officer Shardul Gusain confirmed that four bodies have been recovered so far.
“We have received reports of four fatalities. Rescue teams from the district administration, police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the army have been deployed to the site and rescue operations are ongoing,” Gusain said.
Officials said many people may have been swept away in the deluge, and the exact toll will be clear only after assessment teams return from the affected site.
Preliminary reports suggest that the sudden rise in the Kheer Ganga rivulet was caused by a cloudburst in the higher reaches. The surge caught villagers completely off guard.
“The water came in like a wall. Within moments, it swept away everything,” said Lokendra Bisht, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and owner of a homestay in Harsil.
“People were going about their daily activities when the flood hit. Several homes, hotels, and shops have been completely destroyed”, he said.
Visuals from the site show wrecked structures, debris-covered roads, and panicked locals trying to salvage their belongings. The area remains cut off due to road blockages and broken communication lines.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who is closely monitoring the situation, has directed officials to intensify rescue efforts.
“The loss of lives and property in Uttarkashi is tragic. I have instructed the district administration to ensure swift and coordinated rescue and relief operations,” he said in a statement.
Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to CM Dhami and took stock of the situation.
During the telephonic conversation, Shah expressed concern over the loss of lives and large-scale destruction caused by the cloudburst-induced flood and assured the state government of all possible assistance from the Centre.
According to officials , Shah said the central government stands firmly with Uttarakhand in this difficult time and that rescue and relief operations should be carried out on a war footing. He assured that necessary personnel and resources from central agencies, including NDRF, would continue to support local authorities.
Additional teams and helicopters are on standby to be deployed if required. Temporary shelters and relief camps are being set up in nearby safe zones for those displaced by the disaster.
The State Emergency Operation Center has been activated and continuous updates are being relayed to the chief minister’s office (CMO). Officials said all relevant agencies are coordinating efforts under the state’s disaster response plan.
Authorities have appealed to pilgrims and residents to stay away from vulnerable areas near rivers and avoid unnecessary travel in the region. A red alert remains in effect for parts of Uttarkashi and adjoining districts due to continued heavy rainfall forecasts.
As rescue efforts continue into the night, there is growing concern about those still unaccounted for. The priority, officials say, is to locate the missing, provide immediate medical care to the injured, and restore access to the affected region.
