4 Dead, Many Missing As Flash Floods Wash Away Much Of Uttarakhand Village

Four people have died, scores are feared trapped under debris and nine Army personnel are missing after a cloudburst struck Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district this afternoon, triggering a mudslide and flash floods that swept through a village, catching its residents by surprise.

Horrifying visuals from Dharali village in Uttarkashi show a massive stream of water gushing towards homes after the cloudburst in the catchment area of Kheer Ganga river. At least half the village was buried under the fast flowing mudslide of slush, rubble and water, officials said as rescue personnel battled the elements in the ecologically fragile heights to contain the damage of the afternoon.

Contiguous buildings, including three and four-storey houses, fell like a pack of cards as the surging waters washed over them. 

The raging waters flowed down two different sides of the same hill, one towards Dharali and the other towards the village of Sukki, said state Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman.

The rain continued through the afternoon and till evening, hampering rescue efforts.

Uttarakhand Principal Secretary R K Sudhanshu said 40 to 50 buildings are damaged. He added that helicopters could not be pressed into service either because of bad weather.

In one of the videos from the accident site, residents are heard screaming in panic and a man is seen stumbling as he tries to come out of the sludge.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to review the situation and said all possible efforts are being made to help people. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also spoken to the Chief Minister.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indo Tibetan Border Patrol (ITBP) have been deployed for rescue operations. A team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is also at the site. 

Chief Minister Dhami has said the district administration, the Army, NDRF and the state disaster response force are conducting rescue work and evacuation in the affected areas. "The administration is fully alert and affected citizens are being provided every help."

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उत्तरकाशी, हर्षिल क्षेत्र में खीर गाड़ का जलस्तर बढने से धराली में नुकसान होने की सूचना पर पुलिस, SDRF, आर्मी आदि आपदा दल मौके पर राहत एवं बचाव कार्य में जुटे हैं।

उक्त घटना को देखते हुए सभी नदी से उचित दूरी बनायें। स्वयं, बच्चों व मवेशियों को नदी से उचित दूरी पर ले जायें। pic.twitter.com/tAICzWQUzc

— Uttarkashi Police Uttarakhand (@UttarkashiPol) August 5, 2025

According to the Army, the mudslide swept through Dharali around 1.45 pm. "A massive mudslide struck Dharali village in the KheerGad area near Harshil, triggering sudden flow of debris and water through the settlement," the Army's Central Command posted on X.

It added that troops have reached the site and started rescue work. "Extent of damage is being ascertained and updates will follow as relief operations unfold. The Army stands resolute in support of our citizens during this natural calamity," the Army said.

The Uttarkashi police has posted pictures of the destruction and urged people to maintain a safe distance from rivers. "In view of this incident, everyone should maintain a safe distance from the river. Ensure that you, children, and animals are kept at a safe distance from the river," they said.

धराली (उत्तरकाशी) क्षेत्र में बादल फटने से हुए भारी नुकसान का समाचार अत्यंत दुःखद एवं पीड़ादायक है। राहत एवं बचाव कार्यों के लिए SDRF, NDRF, जिला प्रशासन तथा अन्य संबंधित टीमें युद्ध स्तर पर जुटी हुई हैं।

इस सम्बन्ध में लगातार वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों से संपर्क में हूँ और स्थिति की गहन…

— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) August 5, 2025

Uttarakhand has been receiving heavy rain this monsoon and major rivers, including the Ganga in Haridwar, are in spate.

Cloudbursts are counted as among the most devastating natural disasters in the Indian Himalayas, causing an enormous amount of rainfall across a limited area within an extremely short span of time.

According to the India Meteorological Department, rain falling at a rate of over 100 millimetres an hour with strong winds and lightning across 20-30 square kilometres of area is termed a cloudburst.

The Indian Himalayas are considered vulnerable to unusual and extreme weather events, including cloudbursts, extreme precipitation, flash floods, and avalanches, the risk of all of which is said to increase as climate change intensifies.