Uttarakhand Cloudburst: 4 Dead, Over 50 Missing as Dharali Village Washed Away in 34 Seconds
Hotels and Homes Swept Like Straw; Army, SDRF, NDRF Teams at the Scene
In a tragic incident on Tuesday at 1:45 PM, a sudden cloudburst over Kheer Ganga river near Dharali village in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, caused a devastating flash flood that washed away the entire village within seconds. The disaster led to the deaths of at least four people, and over 50 remain missing, according to District Magistrate Prashant Arya.
Several houses and structures along the riverbanks were buried under debris. Disturbing videos and images from the site show hotels and homes crumbling like matchsticks. Dharali is a crucial stop en route to the Gangotri Dham, making the damage even more significant due to the presence of tourists and pilgrims.
The impact was so severe that water overflowed into areas like the Harsil helipad, raising flood concerns in the lower regions of Uttarkashi. Locals near the Bhagirathi river have been advised to stay alert.
Rescue operations are being hindered by ongoing rainfall. SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi told Bhaskar that despite the challenging weather, teams from the Indian Army, SDRF, ITBP, and local police are working in coordination to carry out rescue and relief operations. Massive debris along with floodwaters is complicating access and rescue efforts.
