A devastating Uttarakhand flash flood and cloudburst on Tuesday afternoon swept through Dharali village, killing at least four and leaving many missing. The cloudburst triggered a violent surge on the Kheerganga River, unleashing torrents of muddy water through the mountainous region of Uttarkashi.
Residents screamed and fled as the dark wave crashed into buildings, temples and homes, catching dozens by surprise during a festival. Officials confirmed that over 100 people remain missing, including at least eight soldiers stationed at a nearby army camp in Harsali.
The disaster also disrupted communications, blocking access to the village and cutting power, leaving emergency teams struggling to reach victims. National and state disaster response forces reached Gangotri early Tuesday but couldn’t contact other teams due to damaged networks and landslides.
Army officials deployed around 150 troops who rescued at least 20 people while navigating through thick sludge and unstable terrain. Rescuers reported that a wall of freezing mud buried large parts of Dharali, turning the tourist hotspot into a muddy wasteland.
The Bhagirathi River becomes choked with debris, forming an artificial lake that threatens downstream villages if not drained immediately. Heavy rains continued through Wednesday, closing highways, halting helicopters, and complicating rescue efforts with widespread flooding and road collapses.
The India Meteorological Department recorded up to 21 centimetres of rainfall, warning of continued downpours across Uttarakhand’s fragile landscape. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said rescue efforts were moving on a war footing, though unstable conditions are slowing progress.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and pledged federal resources to assist with search, rescue and rebuilding in the affected regions. Experts blame a mix of global warming and unregulated construction for worsening disasters like the recent incident.