Uttarkashi : A powerful cloudburst around 1:50 PM on Tuesday unleashed a deadly deluge in Dharali village of Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, leaving at least five dead and over 100 feared missing. The flash flood, triggered by heavy rains in the upper reaches, tore through the Kheer Ganga river and engulfed the village, sweeping away 40–50 structures — including over 20 hotels, restaurants, and homes — and destroying a key bridge.
Dramatic videos captured the destruction as walls of water, mud, and debris smashed through the main market area, uprooting buildings and carrying people away.
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उत्तरकाशी, हर्षिल क्षेत्र में खीर गाड़ का जलस्तर बढने से धराली में नुकसान होने की सूचना पर पुलिस, SDRF, आर्मी आदि आपदा दल मौके पर राहत एवं बचाव कार्य में जुटे हैं।
उक्त घटना को देखते हुए सभी नदी से उचित दूरी बनायें। स्वयं, बच्चों व मवेशियों को नदी से उचित दूरी पर ले जायें। pic.twitter.com/tAICzWQUzc
— Uttarkashi Police Uttarakhand (@UttarkashiPol) August 5, 2025
The Indian Army, ITBP, and SDRF teams were immediately deployed. Army personnel from nearby Harshil reached the site within minutes, rescuing at least 20 people by 3:30 PM. Rescue efforts, however, were hampered by bad weather and broken road links. The BRO and PWD have been roped in to restore connectivity.
A second cloudburst was also reported at Sukhi Top near Dharali later in the day.
Authorities said the human toll could have been higher, but many locals were attending a nearby fair at the time of the disaster. Visuals from the aftermath show the town buried in mud and rubble. Helplines have been activated in Haridwar and Dehradun for information on victims.
Dharali, a popular stop en route to Gangotri, now stands ravaged — its future uncertain amid nature’s fury.
