UTTARKASHI: A devastating cloudburst struck Dharali village in Uttarakhand Uttarkashi district on Tuesday afternoon, triggering flash floods that left at least four people dead and over 50 missing. The disaster occurred around 1:45 pm, just 4 km from the Indian Army camp at Harsil, cutting off access to Gangotri Dham, one of the Char Dhams and a major pilgrimage site.
According to officials, the cloudburst unleashed a sudden and violent surge of water mixed with mud and debris, sweeping through homes, roads, and farmlands. Entire areas near the winter seat of Ganga Ji at Mukhba have been left devastated.
Rescue operations are underway, with ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police), NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), and local disaster management teams deployed. However, continuous rainfall and blocked roads are hampering efforts to reach the remote village, where communication lines have also been disrupted.
“Several people were washed away. The terrain is difficult, and the water came down with such force that many homes have been flattened,” said a local official involved in the rescue efforts.
Helicopters have been kept on standby for airlifting survivors once the weather clears, while teams on the ground are trying to locate the missing using drones and sniffer dogs.
Background & Risk
This is not the first time Uttarkashi has witnessed such an event. The region, located in the fragile upper Himalayas, is prone to cloudbursts, especially during the monsoon season. Experts have long warned that climate change, deforestation, and unplanned construction are intensifying the scale and frequency of such disasters.
The cloudburst has once again raised concerns about the vulnerability of high-altitude pilgrimage zones like Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath where thousands of tourists and pilgrims visit every month.
Authorities have appealed to residents and visitors to avoid travelling to the region until further notice. Relief camps have been set up for displaced families, and a compensation package is expected to be announced by the state government soon.
As Uttarakhand battles this sudden blow, the search for the missing continues under a clouded sky with hopes fading and concerns rising over the increasing wrath of nature in the Himalayan belt.
Editor: Vaishali Verma