On August 5, 2025, a massive cloudburst occurred in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river near Dharali village in Uttarkashi district, triggering sudden flash floods and a deadly debris slide. The disaster tore through houses, shops, hotels, and vehicles, leaving at least four people confirmed dead. Several others, including 11 soldiers from a nearby Army camp, are still missing. Locals fear the death toll could rise as search and rescue teams continue to dig through layers of rubble and mud.
Videos from the scene showed torrents of muddy water racing down the slopes, toppling three- and four-storey buildings “like a pack of cards,” eyewitnesses said. Continuous rainfall and fresh landslides worsened the situation, washing away a bridge over the Tanglig drain and blocking the Gangotri Highway at multiple points. Dozens of hotels and homestays along the Gangotri route were destroyed, making Dharali one of the worst-hit areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines a cloudburst as rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres an hour over an area of 20–30 sq km, usually accompanied by strong winds and lightning. Officials confirmed two separate cloudbursts—one in Dharali and another in Sukhi Top—that caused widespread devastation in the region.
Rescue operations have been launched on a war footing, with more than 200 personnel from the Indian Army, ITBP, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, and fire services working round the clock. Additional teams have been airlifted from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, while helipads in Jhala have been activated for aerial evacuations. By the morning of August 6, 70–80 people had been rescued and moved to safety. Relief camps have been set up in nearby colleges, while alerts have been issued for villages along riverbanks in Bhattwadi, Gangori, and Uttarkashi.
For the first time, the NDRF has deployed cadaver dogs to help locate bodies feared buried under debris, alongside sniffer dogs trained to detect survivors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have assured full central support to the Uttarakhand government. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, after conducting an aerial survey, said: “All agencies are coordinating to ensure timely rescue and relief. Every possible step is being taken to save lives and assist those affected.”
