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Cloudburst Triggers Deadly Floods
The Indian Army’s Central Command reported that a “massive mudslide struck Dharali village in the Kheer Gad area near Harsil, triggering a sudden flow of debris and water through the settlement.” The flash floods were caused by a cloudburst—an intense downpour delivering a large volume of rain in a short period—over the Kheer Ganga river catchment, swelling the river and sending torrents of muddy water crashing through the village. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded extreme rainfall of 21cm (8.3 inches) or more in parts of northwest India, including Uttarkashi, over the past 24 hours, surpassing the 10cm per hour threshold for a cloudburst.
Dharali, a Himalayan hamlet located between Harsil and the sacred Gangotri Dham, saw homes, hotels, and shops obliterated as floodwaters carried boulders and debris through the village. Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene, with muddy torrents moving at nearly 43 km per hour, leaving residents little time to escape. “Everything from hotels to markets has been destroyed... I haven’t witnessed a disaster like this before,” an eyewitness told India Today TV.
Rescue Efforts Underway
Rescue operations are in full swing, with teams from the Indian Army’s Ibex Brigade, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and local police working under challenging conditions. The Indian Army mobilized 150 personnel within minutes of the disaster, equipped with medical kits and rescue equipment. Over 190 people have been rescued, and the injured are receiving treatment at the Army camp in Harsil. However, blocked roads, continuous rain, and a non-functional civil helipad in Dharali are hampering efforts. The Indian Air Force has deployed helicopters, including Mi-17s and ALH Mk-III, on standby for evacuation and relief delivery.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the affected area on Wednesday and met with families impacted by the disaster. “The news of heavy destruction caused by the cloudburst in Dharali is extremely saddening,” Dhami said on X, assuring that rescue agencies are working “on a war footing.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and confirmed that relief efforts are being closely monitored.
Climate Change and Regional Vulnerability
Experts suggest the disaster may not solely be due to a cloudburst. Dr. DD Chauniyal, a geography professor at Doon University, indicated that a glacial pond burst in the snow-covered mountains north of Dharali could have contributed to the deluge, as the area received only 6.5mm of rainfall in Harsil, far below the threshold for a cloudburst-triggered flood. Posts on X also cite a possible glacier collapse or glacial lake outburst, drawing parallels to the 2021 Chamoli disaster.
Uttarakhand’s Himalayan region is highly vulnerable to climate change, with rising temperatures accelerating glacier melting, such as at the nearby Gangotri glacier. A study in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction highlights that higher-altitude districts like Uttarkashi face increased risks from excessive precipitation, cloudbursts, and floods due to fragile ecosystems and limited adaptability. The United Nations Environment Programme warns that glacial retreat will reduce water availability and increase solar energy absorption, exacerbating global warming. Environmentalists also point to deforestation and unregulated construction, including for the Char Dham Yatra, as amplifying the disaster’s impact.
Ongoing Crisis and Response
The Uttarkashi district administration reports 80-90 buildings damaged, with 20-25 hotels and guesthouses washed away. Among the missing are 51 tourists from Maharashtra and a 28-member group from Kerala. The IMD has issued an orange alert, forecasting more heavy rainfall in the region, raising fears of further flooding.
As rescue operations continue, the tragedy underscores the growing threat of climate-driven disasters in the Himalayas, compounded by human activities. Authorities have urged residents to avoid riverbanks and suspended movement on the Char Dham pilgrimage route.
