Following a massive cloudburst that triggered intense rainfall and flash floods in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, rescuers are searching for scores of people who may be stranded.
The Uttarkashi district’s Dharali village, which is thought to have been hardest hit by the floods, has received teams from the army and paramilitary.
A massive wave of water is seen rushing through the neighbourhood in dramatic videos of the calamity, destroying structures as it passes. Hotels, resorts, and restaurants abound in Dharali, a popular tourist destination.
An intense, brief downpour of rain over a limited region that frequently results in flash floods is called a cloudburst.
Around 13:30, a significant amount of water fell, causing the Kheerganga river to overflow and sending tonnes of muddy water rushing downhill on the mountainous terrain, covering Dharali’s roads, buildings, and stores.
While shrieking, blowing whistles, and yelling “run, run” could be heard in the dramatic footage of the muddy water flowing through the streets, witnesses from a nearby village claimed that the abrupt surge did not give anyone time to flee.
They stated that they thought a large number of individuals might be buried beneath the rubble.
They noted that the slush is also covering the old Kalpkedar temple, which is thought to have sustained damage.
The Kheerganga sludge has formed an artificial lake, burying large areas of land, including a government helipad, and obstructing a portion of the region’s main river, Bhagirathi, which, as it flows downstream, becomes India’s holiest river, Ganga.
There is growing concern that towns and villages downstream may be severely impacted if this water is not promptly emptied.
In a message on the social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his “condolences to the people affected by the tragedy“.
“I pray for the well-being of all the victims… Relief and rescue teams are engaged in every possible effort. No stone is being left unturned in providing assistance to the people,” he wrote.
Earlier, Uttarkashi’s top official, Prashant Arya, said that the area’s inadequate connectivity was the reason for the irregular communication.
“As it’s a populated area with lots of restaurants and hotels, we’ve dispatched rescue teams to the site,” he stated.
Harsil, a well-known tourist destination with a sizable Indian army base, lies 2 km from Dharali. There is also a paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp close by.
Officials reported that both forces’ personnel had arrived at the disaster scene and were evaluating the situation.
However, given the ongoing heavy rains in the area, rescue efforts are anticipated to be delayed. According to reports, some of the injured are being treated at the army base in Harsil.
