Dharali Village in Uttarakhand Ravaged by Cloudburst Intensifying Rescue Efforts

A devastating flash flood, triggered by a cloudburst in the Kheer Ganga river catchment area on Tuesday, has caused widespread destruction across parts of Uttarakhand, with Dharali village in Uttarkashi district bearing the brunt of the calamity. The sudden deluge, which also included a separate cloudburst incident in the Sukhi Top area, swept away several houses, shops, and roads.

Officials have reported four fatalities, with over a dozen individuals still missing. However, local residents express concern that the actual death toll could be considerably higher. Dramatic videos circulating on social media capture the harrowing scenes, showing a man crawling through muddy debris to safety, houses inundated by floodwaters, and the Bhagirathi River in Uttarkashi flowing with a strong and dangerous current. One particularly striking video depicts a car being swept away by the raging waters.

A joint rescue and relief operation, comprising 201 personnel from the Army, ITBP, Police, Revenue Department, and BRO, has been swiftly deployed. Helipad operations have been activated at Jhala to facilitate aerial rescue efforts, and warnings have been issued to residents living near riverbanks in affected areas. Several local colleges have been converted into relief shelters for those displaced by the floods. Despite these extensive efforts, some locals have bemoaned perceived delays in the rescue operations.