At least four people lost their lives, and several others are feared trapped after a flashflood hit Dharali village in Uttarkashi on Tuesday. The flood was triggered by a cloudburst over the Kheer Ganga river.
Dharali, which lies on the route to Gangotri and has many hotels, restaurants, and homestays, was badly affected. The floodwaters, filled with silt and debris, swept through the area, damaging and submerging many buildings.
The cloudburst is believed to have happened in the Kheer Ganga’s catchment area. Rescue teams are on the ground, trying to find those missing and assess how much damage has been done.
Around 40 to 50 buildings washed away
Around 40 to 50 buildings, including 20 to 25 hotels and homestays, were washed away in the flashfloods in Dharali, according to officials and locals. Uttarakhand Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu said that initial reports suggest 40–50 structures were destroyed in the deluge.
A villager, Rajesh Panwar, said that around 10–12 people may be trapped under debris. He also estimated that 20–25 hotels and homestays might have been
washed away.
A video shot from higher ground shows the floodwaters crashing through buildings, breaking them apart. In the same video, several people are seen running for their lives, and some appear to be swept away.
Rescue teams rushed to Dharali
As soon as news of the disaster came in, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams rushed to Dharali. Additional teams from the SDRF, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are on their way.
SDRF Inspector General Arun Mohan Joshi said, “Our nearest SDRF team has reached the spot. Two other units are about to reach. Rescue work is being done in a coordinated manner. The nearby NDRF, Army teams are also reaching the spot.”
“Specialised equipment in our SDRF battalion headquarters, which can be used in this disaster, is also being sent… Whether it is the Army, ITBP, or NDRF, all the teams are reaching the spot, and rescue is being done in a coordinated manner," he added.
Home Minister reviews the situation
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to review the situation after the flashflood. He said that three nearby ITBP teams and four NDRF teams have been sent to the area to help with rescue and relief work. In a post on X, Shah wrote, “Spoke with the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand regarding the flash flood incident in Dharali (Uttarkashi) to gather information about the event. Three nearby ITBP teams have been sent there, and four NDRF teams have also been dispatched to the site, which will soon arrive and engage in rescue operations.”
A 16-member team from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has already reached the cloudburst site to support the ongoing rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta called the incident “very unfortunate” and said saving lives is their top priority. He confirmed that rescue teams had reached the site and added that the flashflood was caused by a cloudburst. Tamta also said he is in touch with the teams on the ground and is closely monitoring the situation.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his sorrow over the heavy losses caused by the cloudburst in Dharali, Uttarkashi. On his social media handle, he shared the news was “extremely sad and painful.” He said that SDRF, NDRF, the district administration, and other teams are carrying out relief and rescue work on a war footing.
“I am constantly in touch with senior officials in this regard, and the situation is being closely monitored. I pray to God for everyone’s safety," the CM said.
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