UTTARKASHI, India – August 5, 2025 – Flash floods and a massive debris slide struck Dharali village in Uttarkashi on Tuesday, washing away an estimated 40-50 houses and leaving more than 50 people missing, officials reported. Earlier in the day, four casualties had been confirmed.
The disaster in Uttarkashi has left officials scrambling.
Disaster strikes dharali village, with homes destroyed and residents unaccounted for.
- 40-50 houses feared destroyed in Dharali village,Uttarkashi.
- Over 50 people are reported missing following the flash floods.
- An Army camp was also affected, with 8-10 soldiers missing.
- Rescue operations are underway, with multiple teams deployed.
- meteorological data suggests moderate rainfall, not a cloudburst.
The devastating incident in Dharali village of Uttarkashi saw 40-50 houses washed away.Rescue efforts are in full swing, with three teams of 35 members each deployed by the NDRF. Mohsen Shahedi, DIG of the NDRF, stated that initial reports indicate approximately 40-50 houses were destroyed and over 50 individuals are estimated to be missing.
An Army camp located near Dharali was also impacted by the flash floods, with reports indicating 8-10 soldiers are missing. Colonel Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of the 14 Rajputana Rifles, is leading 150 personnel in the rescue and relief operations. So far, 20 individuals have been rescued. Sniffer dogs are being brought in to aid the search. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police have successfully relocated 80 villagers to safer locations.
Uttarkashi’s Dharali cloudburst: DM Prashant Arya said that there were reports of four deaths so far. pic.twitter.com/V2lZLO2eks
– The Indian Express (@indianexpress) August 5, 2025
While the state government has attributed the floods to a cloudburst, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicates only moderate rainfall.Dr. Rohit Thapliyal, a scientist at IMD, noted that the data shows 8mm of rainfall in Harsil between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. He clarified that the region did not meet the criteria for a cloudburst, which typically involves 100 mm or more of rainfall per hour. “Only a probe will reveal the reason for the floods,” he stated.
The secretary of Disaster management, Vinod Kumar Suman, suggested that heavy rainfall at higher elevations might be the cause. he added that the accumulation of sludge in the area is making rescue operations challenging.
Authorities have activated the Maneri, Joshiara, and dharasu barrages, as well as the Tehri Emergency Operations Centre, due to rising water levels in the Khiragad, Sukhi Top, and Awana Dhyagad rivers, and a lake overflow in the Bhagirathi River near Ala. Police have issued warnings to residents living along riverbanks in Bhatwari, Maneri, Gangori, and Uttarkashi, urging them to move to safety.
