Dehradun: A cloudburst led to flash floods in the high-altitude villages of Dharali in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, with several houses being damaged or swept away in the raging waters, according to people in the area.
The cloudburst took place in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river, leading to the devastating floods, locals said.
About 10-12 people could be buried under the debris, Rajesh Panwar, a villager, told PTI. He said 20-25 hotels and homestays may have been washed away.
There was panic in the villages in the area, with people scrambling for dry ground. Videos from the area showed a torrent of water rushing down. People could be heard screaming in panic.
The cloudburst, which triggered a flash flood of unprecedented intensity, led to a terrifying wave of water, mud, and rocks hurtling towards the village. The flood engulfed swathes of the settlement and reignited fears of significant loss of life.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of absolute chaos and panic as screams filled the air, with residents scrambling for safety.
Several hotels and shops in the busy Dharali market were instantly swamped, many collapsing under the sheer force of the floodwaters.
The market area itself is reported to be completely washed away.
“We fear the actual casualty count could exceed 30,” a resident, who wished not to be named, told reporters, reflecting the deep anxiety prevalent in the community.
Many hotels and commercial establishments have been utterly destroyed. Emergency response teams, including personnel from the Army (Harsil), Police, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), were immediately mobilised and dispatched to Bhatwari to commence rescue operations.
District Disaster Management Officer Jaiprakash Singh Panwar, Uttarkashi, provided insights into the immediate response.
Disturbing videos circulating on social media platforms, purportedly showing the aftermath of the cloudburst, depict widespread destruction and the desperate cries of villagers.
The visuals underscore the severity of the disaster and strongly indicate that the number of fatalities could indeed rise significantly as rescue efforts progress. Lt. Col. Manish Shrivastava, Army PRO, confirmed the recovery of a body from the debris.
“Troops of the Ibex Brigade were immediately mobilised and have reached the affected site to assess the situation and undertake rescue operations,” he stated. “The extent of damage is being ascertained, and updates will follow as relief operations unfold.”
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed profound grief over the loss of life and property in Dharali.
He extended his condolences to the affected families and directed officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing.
Teams from the Army, SDRF, NDRF, district administration, and other relevant agencies are currently engaged in the daunting task of search and rescue at the site.
Home Minister Amit Shah said that he has spoken to the Uttarakhand CM to get information on the flash flood in Dharali, and 3 ITBP, 4 NDRF teams have been dispatched.
