At least 5 people killed and several people remained missing after a devastating cloudburst triggered massive flash floods in Uttarkashi ’s Dharali village, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday. The affected region, situated along the route to the Gangotri pilgrimage site, experienced widespread destruction as violent torrents of water swept away homes, markets and infrastructure.
According to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, over 130 people have rescued so far despite adverse weather and difficult terrain slowing down operations. Personnel from the Indian Army, ITBP, SDRF, NDRF and local police are relentlessly working to rescue the stranded and locate the missing.
Two separate cloudbursts—one in Dharali and another at Sukhi Top in Uttarkashi —wreaked havoc across the region. Dharali bore the brunt of the disaster, with visuals showing muddy streams ripping through houses and shops, leaving behind a path of destruction. Officials estimate that 20–25 hotels and guesthouses possibly washed away in the calamity.
The flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in the Kheer Ganga catchment area, followed by mudslides in the Kheer Gadh region. Large sections of the Dharali market have been reported as “completely swept away.”
On Wednesday, CM Dhami conducted an aerial survey and visited the State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to assess the ongoing relief efforts. He is currently on the ground in Dharali, closely monitoring the rescue operations.
The CM thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending support and shared that the Disaster Operations Centre in Dehradun is working round-the-clock. “All agencies are putting in every effort to rescue everyone safely,” Dhami said.
A team of 150 Army personnel, led by Colonel Harshvardhan of 14 RAJRIF, has deployed in Harsil for intensive rescue and relief operations. The Army is also using drones, tracker dogs, and earthmovers to aid search efforts and supply delivery.
