A devastating cloudburst struck Dharali village in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, unleashing flash floods that destroyed several houses and swept away properties. The sudden deluge, caused by the rising water levels of the Kheer Ganga river, has left at least four people dead and around 50 missing, according to reports by NDTV.
A bunch of horrifying videos have been circulating on social media. The videos show raging water engulfing houses and roads as terrified people scream for help. Locals were heard crying out in panic. The flood wiped down shelters in a matter of seconds.
Here’s a video posted by an X user @iamkartikvikram that catches the exact moment when the tragedy occurred,
Take a look;
Please Pray for the safety of people in #uttarkashi#uttarkashicloudburstpic.twitter.com/ngoJQuYkdn
— KARTIK SHRIVASTAVA (@iamkartikvikram) August 5, 2025
An eyewitness, Suresh Semwal, shared with CNN-News18, “The situation is very bad here. Many hotels have been washed away in the flash flood. Around 50 hotels in this area are totally submerged. Several villagers are also trapped.”
The Uttarkashi Police have urged locals to maintain a safe distance from the river. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), they said, “In Uttarkashi, due to the rising water level of Kheer Gad in the Harsil area, reports of damage in Dharali have prompted police, SDRF, army, and other disaster response teams to engage in relief and rescue operations at the site. In view of this incident, everyone should maintain a safe distance from the river. Ensure that you, children, and livestock are kept at a safe distance from the river.”
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Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed concern and ordered immediate relief and rescue operations. “I have been informed about a cloudburst incident in Dharali of Uttarkashi… We are working to rescue the people. Officials from the District administration, the Indian Army, NDRF, and SDRF are trying to rescue people and save them,” he told ANI.
Sharing his thoughts on X, CM Dhami added, “The news of heavy damage caused by a cloudburst in the Dharali (Uttarkashi) region is extremely sad and distressing. SDRF, NDRF, district administration, and other related teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations on a war footing. In this regard, I am in constant contact with senior officials, and the situation is being closely monitored. I pray to God for everyone’s safety.”
State Minister Saurabh Bahuguna, speaking to CNN-News18, expressed deep sorrow and affirmed the government’s commitment to saving lives. “It’s a very sad incident. The rescue operation has been launched. Our priority is to save the lives of the people stuck there. NDRF, SDRF are on their way to the location.”
Authorities said Army units from Harsil, along with SDRF and police teams, have been dispatched to Bhatwari, one of the worst-hit regions.
As the situation unfolds, relief teams are racing against time to locate those trapped and prevent further casualties.
