Rescue teams continued their search on Tuesday in the hills of Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. They were looking for survivors after a series of suspected cloudbursts caused sudden flash floods. The disaster hit several villages near the Kheer Ganga river, killing at least four people. Many others are still missing.
Floods Strike Without Warning
The flash flood hit around 1:50 pm. It brought huge rocks, mud, and debris crashing down into Dharali, a popular tourist village in the upper Himalayas. The flood destroyed homes, shops, and hotels.
Teams from the Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police managed to rescue about 70 people by midnight, officials said. However, constant rainfall and dangerous terrain slowed down their efforts.
Scenes of Destruction Shared Online
Videos from the disaster showed mud and water tearing through the Kheer Ganga river. The waves knocked down trees, power lines, buildings, and vehicles. Some videos also showed people running to safety or climbing to higher ground, while others were seen being swept away by the strong current.
Floods Form Dangerous Lake
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the flash floods had formed a temporary lake, which had started overflowing. This new body of water is now threatening nearby areas. He said, “The lake will be drained to keep people safe.”
Three Suspected Cloudbursts in Three Hours
According to officials from the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, the disaster likely began after three cloudbursts hit the region within three hours.
-
The first cloudburst occurred around 1 pm over Dharali village. It caused the Kheer Ganga river to overflow. At the time, dozens of people had gathered in the village for a local festival.
-
The second one struck at 3 pm at Sukki Top, located between Harsil and Gangnani villages. This sent more mud and water into the Bhagirathi river.
-
The third cloudburst happened just 30 minutes later near an army camp in Harsil. It caused another flood, and 8 to 10 army personnel were reported missing. The floodwaters also submerged a helipad, which was supposed to be used for rescue missions.
Uttarakhand's History of Disasters
Uttarakhand has faced many natural disasters, often worsened by climate change and environmental damage. Since 1970, over 5,600 people have died in such tragedies. The Kedarnath floods in 2013 killed 4,127 people, making it the worst disaster in the state. In 2021, a glacier burst in Chamoli caused an avalanche, killing more than 200 people.
Now, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a flash flood alert for the area for the next two days.
Rivers Blocked, Villages Damaged
Reports said the Bhagirathi river has been blocked by debris. The affected villages include:
-
Sukki, about 60 km from Uttarkashi
-
Harsil army camp, located 14.5 km northeast of Sukki
-
Dharali, situated 7 km east of Harsil, which suffered the most damage
The IMD said Uttarakhand received 30.6 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, which is 134% above normal.
However, the nearest weather office is in Dehradun. Officials there said they are still unsure if the floods were caused by one event, three separate cloudbursts, or another cause altogether.
Experts Consider Possible Causes
Dipali Jindal, a senior consultant with the National Disaster Management Authority, said they are exploring three possibilities:
-
A cloudburst in the Kheer Ganga catchment area
-
Prolonged rain in the Western Himalayas, which saturated the soil
-
A possible ice-rock avalanche from one of 13 large glacial lakes in the state
She added, “We will also check if infrastructure played a role in the post-disaster assessment depending on the need.”
Search and Rescue Operations Underway
Shardul Gusain, the disaster management officer for Uttarkashi, confirmed the death toll. “We have received reports of four fatalities. Rescue teams from the district administration, police, SDRF, and the army have been deployed to the site and rescue operations are ongoing,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reacted to the disaster. He posted on X, “I have spoken to Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami ji and obtained information about the situation. Under the supervision of the state government, relief and rescue teams are engaged in every possible effort.”
SDRF media in-charge Vineet Devrani said, “Rescue teams from SDRF posts in Bhatwadi and Gangotri reached the incident site in the evening. They said 60 to 70 people have been rescued from the disaster affected area and taken to safer places. Other SDRF teams are on the way and will reach the affected area soon.”
SDRF commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi added, “Our top priority is saving lives.”
Despite their own military camp👇 in Harshil being devastated by flash flood in Uttarkashi, the soldiers did not hesitate. Instead of tending to their own loses, they rushed to nearby Harshil & Dharali village to carry out rescue operations, putting others before themselves.… pic.twitter.com/pnmwSwwIh9
— Maj Digvijay Singh Rawat, Kirti Chakra (@Dig_raw21) August 5, 2025
Government Response
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with CM Dhami and sent seven more rescue teams to help. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the Centre and state government are working together and “taking all possible measures to save lives.”
Dhami, who was in Andhra Pradesh, returned to Dehradun immediately. He said, “The loss of lives and property in Uttarkashi is tragic. I have instructed the district administration to ensure swift and coordinated rescue and relief operations.”