At least four people have been confirmed dead and several others are feared trapped after a cloudburst triggered flash floods and a massive debris slide in Dharali village, located around 10 kilometers from the tourist hub of Harshil in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district.
According to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA), the incident occurred around 1:50 PM in the Kheer Gadh area under Bhatwadi Tehsil. The sudden rise in water levels led to a heavy flow of debris in the Dharali market, damaging several buildings, including hotels and shops.
Rescue efforts are currently underway, with teams from the Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushing to the site. SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi confirmed that their personnel, stationed about 20 km away, are moving swiftly toward the affected area.
District Magistrate Prashant Arya said that while Dharali village itself lies on higher ground, the commercial establishments situated nearby bore the brunt of the flooding. “We are still assessing the full extent of the damage. Initial reports suggest significant property loss, and search operations for those possibly trapped are ongoing,” he said.
The administration is working with local villagers to determine how many people may have been in the area when the disaster struck. Ambulances have been dispatched and hospital beds reserved in nearby facilities, including AIIMS Rishikesh, to handle potential casualties.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep condolences over the loss of life and property. The Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have spoken with CM Dhami to take stock of the situation and offer central support.
The tragedy follows a heavy rainfall alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) a day earlier, warning of “extremely heavy rainfall” across several districts of Uttarakhand, including Uttarkashi, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri, and Chamoli.
Rescue and relief operations remain ongoing, with authorities on high alert as more rain is forecast in the coming days.
