What happened
On August 5, 2025, Dharali village of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand was struck by a deadly flash flood caused by a cloudburst, leaving behind a trail of devastation and loss. As a result, many houses, shops, home-stays, and hotels were either washed away by the flood water or buried under the debris. The exact figures of losses are not known, but many people have lost their lives. Apart from the local people, many of the dead could be tourists who were staying there at that time.
Cause of Deadly Flash Flood
District Magistrate, Uttarkashi, stated that a cloudburst occurred in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga River, resulting in a deadly flash flood. This is widely discussed in the media that the Dharali washout is caused by a cloudburst resulting in a flash flood flowing from the upper reaches to the downstream with boulders and mud.
But scientists who are familiar with the weather conditions in Kheer Ganga River catchment areas and rainfall on that particular day preceding the disaster, opine that the deadly flash flood might be caused by the bursting of a temporary lake, which in turn may be formed by a landslide blockage or a glacier burst. They say that in a cloudburst condition, more than 100 mm of rainfall occurs. In a cloudburst, typically the flood water stays for a longer period, but in Dharali, the deadly flash flood water lasted within seconds after hitting the residential buildings very hard.
Human toll and impacts
According to the latest information available, the bodies of 6 people killed in the deadly flash flood have been recovered. More than 100 people, including tourists, are still missing. About 150 people are reported to be injured and are receiving medical treatment at different hospitals. Domestic animals were also killed by the deadly flash floods.
In addition to civilians, 7 Army personnel, who were staying at the nearby Harshil Army camp, are also reported to be missing after the deadly flash flood.
The Dharali village is completely disconnected from the rest of the state since roads, telephone lines, water, and electricity supply have been destroyed by the disaster.
Rescue & relief response
Officials of the State Government have reached the spot. Apart from the District Administration, Government agencies like the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Road Organization, National Disaster Rescue Force, and State Disaster Response Force have joined hands in the rescue operation.
Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami has been monitoring the rescue efforts at the disaster-hit site. He went to Dharali village to take a first-hand report and met the affected people.
Efforts are also being taken to restore the road connectivity, communication system, water & electricity supply in the flood-affected areas. SDRF Chief has informed that since roads are blocked by landslides at many places, they are facing problems in mobilizing the rescue workers and equipment. Services of the army helicopters are being taken to airlift the rescuers and the advanced tools to the disaster-hit village, and also to evacuate the marooned devotees/tourists to safer places.
Both the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, and the Home Minister, Mr. Amit Shah, have promised to provide full support to the Uttarakhand Government in their rescue efforts.
About 300 people who survived the disaster have been shifted to safer places, and arrangements are being made for their temporary stay, food, and onward journeys. Efforts are also being made to rescue the possible survivors under the debris using drones, tracker dogs, and helicopters.
In the meanwhile the District Administration has published the Dharali Disaster Help Line Numbers: 01374222126, 01374222722, 9456556431 in their website.
The Uttarakhand Government has appealed to people not to be carried away by the fake or unauthenticated news and also warned rumor-mongers to desist from spreading rumors on social media.
Weather conditions & warnings
Incessant rain and landslides affect the rescue operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a red alert for Uttarakhand till 10th August.
Why it matters
This Dharali Village washout incident is not new or isolated one in Uttarakhand. Every year in the monsoon season, natural calamities in the form of cloudbursts, landslides, and floods occur, causing loss of human lives and property.
In the name of development, the Uttarakhand Government is allowing excessive tree cutting and construction work, which have weakened the already fragile Himalayan mountains. The mountains are breaking, and cracks are appearing in them, due to which the danger of man-made calamities has increased.
Conclusion
It is high time that both the Central and State Governments should come forward with some concrete and viable proposals to balance the damage caused by development works with real efforts to preserve the old ecosystem in the State. Further harm to the State’s fragile ecosystem should be avoided at the earliest.