A sudden cloudburst near Dharali village in Uttarkashi triggered devastating flash floods on Tuesday, claiming at least four lives and leaving over 50 people unaccounted for. The disaster struck around 1:45 PM, just 4 km from the Indian Army’s Harsil base, severing access to the sacred Gangotri Dham and prompting large-scale rescue efforts.
The floodwaters—laden with debris and silt—swept through homes, shops, and roads. Videos captured by stranded tourists showed violent currents tearing down slopes, uprooting trees and flattening buildings. The torrent also caused the Kheer Ganga drain to overflow, worsening the situation.
The calamity unfolded close to the winter seat of Ganga at Mukhba and the revered Gangotri shrine, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. Eyewitnesses reported near-total destruction. “It’s like nothing I’ve seen before—hotels, shops, everything gone,” said one local resident.
Personnel from the Indian Army, SDRF, NDRF, and Uttarkashi Police sprang into action, rescuing at least 15 individuals early on. The Indian Army, stationed nearby, was among the first on site. However, relentless rainfall and landslide debris have slowed down operations and kept many areas cut off.
A 16-member team from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) reached the site shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of full central support. A second team was also dispatched.
Chief Minister Dhami described the event as "heartbreaking," adding that relief and rescue efforts were proceeding "on a war footing." Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences, assuring that the state government, with central assistance, was doing everything possible to aid those affected.
In a statement posted on social media, PM Modi said: “I have spoken to Chief Minister Dhami and reviewed the situation. Relief and rescue operations are underway, and all possible support is being extended.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also confirmed deployment of additional NDRF and ITBP teams, urging swift action to trace the missing.
Just hours later, another cloudburst occurred in Sukki, around 16 km from Dharali. Massive runoff surged through the hills, but no casualties have been reported in the second incident.
The calamity in Uttarkashi is part of a larger wave of monsoon-induced chaos across North India. In Uttarakhand’s Dehradun, continuous overnight rain led to school closures. The Ganga in Haridwar and the Kali River are currently flowing above danger marks.
In Himachal Pradesh, 310 roads, including a national highway, were shut on Monday due to landslides and flooding. Mandi district reported three deaths after a vehicle plunged into a gorge, while Shimla's Panthaghati area saw a significant landslide that damaged property and blocked key roads.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain across Himachal Pradesh. The state has recorded at least 103 deaths this monsoon, with 36 people still missing. The causes range from drowning and landslides to cloudbursts and flash floods.
As relief teams battle time and terrain, officials in both states warn that worsening weather could trigger more emergencies in the coming days.
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