Uttarakhand, August 05: Horrific visuals have emerged from Dharali in Uttarkashi after a sudden cloudburst and landslide swept through the area. Just some time ago, there were markets, houses and hotels here. Now, only floodwater and debris can be seen. Horrific videos have emerged from the site on social media, showing the harrowing situation after the tragedy occurred.
The few buildings that remain are buried under thick layers of mud and rubble. Deaths, missing people and the full extent of damage cannot yet be assessed yet. However, the initial reports suggest that around four people have lost their lives and over 50 people are missing after the incident occurred.
There are reports that the disaster struck around 1:45 PM near Dharali village, about 4 km from the Indian Army Camp at Harshil. Responding urgently, the Indian Army deployed 150 personnel who reached the spot within 10 minutes and immediately began rescue operations. So far, 15–20 people have been evacuated and the injured are receiving treatment at the Army’s medical facility in Harshil. Search and rescue efforts continue, with all available resources being used to save lives.
District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed that four people have died due to the cloudburst. He said that a sudden surge of water has swept through the area, damaging restaurants and hotels. Army and disaster teams are working to locate and rescue anyone who may still be trapped. Senior officials are monitoring the situation from the State Disaster Operations Centre in Dehradun.
The landslide has also blocked the Badrinath National Highway (NH-58) near Paagalnala and Bhanerpani. Clearing the debris is underway to restore connectivity. Meanwhile, another cloudburst has been reported at Sukhi Top near Dharali, adding to the scale of the crisis.
