Local residents who captured the dramatic video scenes on their mobile camera said the floodwaters surged without warning, leaving people little time to escape.
At least four people have died and dozens are feared trapped after a massive cloudburst triggered flash floods in Dharali village in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Tuesday afternoon. The extreme weather event, which occurred around 13:30 IST (08:00 GMT), caused the Kheerganga river to swell rapidly, sending torrents of muddy water crashing down the hilly terrain.
Dharali, a popular tourist destination near Harsil and home to numerous hotels, resorts, and restaurants, bore the brunt of the flooding. Eyewitness videos shared online show a giant wave of water submerging buildings, sweeping through streets, and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Local residents who captured the dramatic video scenes on their mobile camera said the floodwaters surged without warning, leaving people little time to escape. They fear that several individuals may be trapped under debris. The ancient Kalpkedar temple in the area has also reportedly been damaged and is now covered in slush.
Rescue operations are underway with personnel from the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) deployed at the site. However, officials say continuing heavy rains are hampering efforts. Prashant Arya, the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi district, said communication in the region has been severely affected due to poor connectivity.
“As it’s a populated area with lots of restaurants and hotels, we’ve dispatched rescue teams to the site,” Arya said.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the incident to local media, stating, “I have been informed about a cloudburst incident in Dharali of Uttarkashi. We are working to rescue the people.”
Shortly after the disaster in Dharali, another massive cloudburst was reported at Sukhi Top, also in Uttarkashi district. Several houses were reportedly damaged or swept away in the second wave of flooding.
The Indian Army reported that a massive mudslide had struck the Kheer Gad area near Harsil before the cloudburst in Dharali, triggering a sudden and forceful flow of water and debris through the settlement.
Rescue efforts continue as authorities assess the full scale of the damage and search for survivors amid challenging conditions.
