The cloudburst in Uttarkashi on August 5, 2025, unleashed chaos in Dharali village, Uttarkashi, as flash floods tore through homes, hotels, and lives. Five people have been confirmed dead, with over 50 missing, including 8-10 Indian Army soldiers from a camp in Harsil. The deluge, triggered by a massive cloudburst in the Kheer Ganga river’s catchment area, swept away entire markets and left half the village buried under mud and debris.
Rescue Operations after Cloudburst in Uttarkashi
Rescue teams, including the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, and ITBP, are battling relentless rain and blocked roads to save those trapped. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, after cutting short a trip to Andhra Pradesh, conducted an aerial survey and met victims, promising swift aid. X posts capture the despair, with locals sharing videos of raging waters and pleas for faster rescues, some calling it a repeat of the 2013 disaster.
IMD on Ongoing Conditions
The India Meteorological Department warns of more heavy rain, prompting school closures in Champawat, Pauri, and Udham Singh Nagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured full support, but with the Gangotri highway collapsed and 163 roads blocked, hope hangs by a thread. Eyewitnesses described the terror of watching loved ones swept away, with one saying, “Everything is gone in minutes.”
Dharali’s pain reflects the growing threat of climate-driven disasters in the Himalayas. The cloudburst in Uttarkashi leaves a community grieving, clinging to hope amid the rubble.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 6th, 2025
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