More than 100 people remain unaccounted for and at least one person has died following powerful flash floods caused by a cloudburst in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand.
The floods swept through Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, sending a torrent of water cascading down from the mountains into Dharali village, submerging roads and buildings along the way. Rescue operations are under way, with around 190 individuals rescued so far, according to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
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A cloudburst refers to an intense and sudden rainfall in a concentrated area over a short duration, often resulting in flash floods.
Access to Dharali has been challenging due to damaged roads and continuous rainfall. Chief Minister Dhami visited the flood-hit area by helicopter on Wednesday and met with affected residents.
Uttarkashi, home to Dharali, is among the worst-affected areas as Uttarakhand experiences weeks of relentless rain. The floods hit around 1:30 pm local time on Tuesday (08:00 GMT), swelling the Kheerganga river and unleashing torrents of muddy water down the hills.
Dharali, a summer tourist destination located about 2km from Harsil—home to a major Indian army base and an Indo-Tibetan Border Police camp—also reported at least 10 soldiers missing, according to officials.
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Rescue efforts have been hindered by thick sludge and debris, though helicopters have been deployed to assist.
The sludge has partially blocked the Bhagirathi river—known downstream as the sacred Ganges—creating an artificial lake that has submerged large areas, including a government helipad. Officials have warned that failure to drain the water quickly could endanger downstream communities.
The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast further heavy rainfall and urged people to avoid areas prone to landslides. Schools have been shut in parts of Uttarakhand as a precaution.
Authorities had previously issued multiple rain alerts, warning tourists against traveling to the region. Dharali generally sees fewer visitors during the monsoon season, and locals say the low turnout likely prevented a higher death toll. “A full crowd could have turned the incident into a far worse disaster,” residents warned.
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Situated in the western Himalayas, Uttarakhand is highly susceptible to flash floods and landslides. In 2021, over 200 people died in similar floods caused by a cloudburst. One of the most catastrophic disasters in the region occurred in 2013 when cloudburst-induced flooding and landslides devastated several towns and villages, particularly Kedarnath, a major pilgrimage site. Thousands were swept away and many bodies were never recovered.