A severe cloudburst hit the Dharali area near Harsil in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday, washing away an entire village and leaving several people missing. The sudden surge in water, especially in Kheer Gadh near Dharali, caused extensive damage to the local market and surrounding areas.
Emergency teams from the police, fire department, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Indian Army were rushed to the site to carry out rescue and relief operations. Uttarakhand Police urged residents to stay away from riverbanks and ensure the safety of children and livestock.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep concern over the disaster, assuring that relief efforts were underway at full speed. He stated that SDRF, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), district administration, and other teams were working round the clock to locate the missing and provide aid. The situation, he said, was being closely monitored, with constant updates from senior officials.
While casualties are yet to be officially confirmed, search efforts for missing individuals continue. The disaster follows an “extremely heavy rainfall” warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for Uttarkashi and other districts. In response to the forecast, the Dehradun administration preemptively closed all schools up to Class 12 and Anganwadi centres on August 4.
Prior to the cloudburst, Chief Minister Dhami had convened a virtual meeting with District Magistrates across Uttarakhand to assess the state’s preparedness and review ongoing development work amid the weather warnings.