Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district was struck by twin disasters on Tuesday as powerful cloudbursts hit Sukhi Top and Dharali, developing devastating flash floods that led to destruction of homes, shops, and roads, which all got swept away creating chaos and panic among the people.
After a cloudburst wreaked havoc in Dharali village, located just a kilometre from Harsil on the Gangotri highway, Sukhi Top was the next to be hit. Huge waves of water rushed down the slopes and many people who witnessed the event unfold have said it was terrifying, with debris-laden water tearing through settlements.
The Indian Army reported that Dharali was hit by a sudden mudslide in the Kheer Gad area, followed by a violent surge of floodwaters around 1:40 PM. The force of the water destroyed the area, guesthouses, and roadside shops in seconds, catching villagers completely off guard.
Reports of deceased
At least four people have been confirmed dead in Dharali, and many more are feared missing. According to District Disaster Management Officer Shardul Gusain, rescue operations are ongoing with help from teams of the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local administration.
“The water came like a wall and swept away everything,” said Lokendra Bisht, a local BJP leader and homestay owner. “People didn’t even have time to react.” He compared the event to the Chamoli disaster, which took place in 2021, where over 200 people had lost their life.
Dramatic visuals shared on social media are making rounds on the internet plus news platforms show houses completely flattened, roads buried under sludge, and terrified locals scrambling to find shelter or save belongings. Many areas remain cut off due to damaged roads and downed communication lines.
Uttarkashi district magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed that the affected zones include several small hotels and guesthouses, raising concerns about the number of people potentially trapped under the debris. Locals fear that 10 to 12 labourers may still be buried.
In the Banala Patti area of Barkot tehsil, the overflow from Kud Gadhera stream swept away nearly 18 goats, highlighting the scale of damage even in neighbouring areas.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called the loss of life and property “tragic” and assured that rescue efforts are being carried out on a war footing. He is in constant touch with officials and monitoring the situation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with CM Dhami and expressed concern over the scale of the disaster. He assured that central agencies like NDRF and ITBP are being mobilized rapidly to assist in rescue and relief. Additional teams and helicopters are on standby.
With heavy rain forecasts continuing until August 10, the Meteorological Department has warned of further cloudbursts and landslides in Uttarakhand’s hilly areas. Officials are urging people in vulnerable zones to move to temporary shelters being set up in safer locations.
As rescue efforts continue and assessment teams gather more information, the full extent of the devastation is yet to be known. But for the residents of Dharali and Sukhi Top, the nightmare of cloudbursts and floods has already left a deep scar.