Cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi kills 4, dozens missing as villages swept away

A devastating cloudburst struck the Dharali area near Harsil in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, claiming at least four lives and leaving many others missing. The sudden downpour triggered flash floods that swept through villages, destroying homes, hotels, and infrastructure.

According to Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya, four fatalities have been confirmed so far. Police, SDRF, Army, and other emergency response teams have been deployed to carry out search and rescue operations in the affected region. The situation remains tense as visuals from the area showed buildings being swallowed by the raging waters of Kheer Ganga in the Harsil belt.

Uttarakhand Police confirmed that emergency services are working round the clock. Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, assuring full support from the central agencies, including the ITBP and NDRF, who have been dispatched to assist on the ground.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier predicted extremely heavy rainfall for parts of Uttarakhand on Tuesday. Villagers fear the worst, with local resident Rajesh Panwar telling PTI that 10–12 people might still be trapped under the debris, and around 20–25 hotels and homestays have reportedly been washed away.

The ongoing monsoon has already caused significant damage across the state. On Monday, one person was swept away in Bhakhra stream near Haldwani, while two others drowned near Bhujiyaghat on Sunday. In Rudraprayag, overnight landslides buried two shops under debris and boulders.

Amid the crisis, Chief Minister Dhami has directed all District Magistrates to remain on high alert and stay stationed at the ground level with their teams. He emphasized quick action in clearing blocked roads and restoring essential services like water and electricity. He also instructed officials to put alternative arrangements in place to address waterlogging and other rain-related issues proactively.