Satellite images show flood damage in Uttarakhand

BBC Verify examines how satellite data confirms damage from floods in Uttarakhand and what it means for rescue work.

Satellite evidence maps flood damage in Uttarakhand

Isro released satellite images showing the aftermath of flooding in Dharali village in the hilly state of Uttarakhand. A comparison of images from 13 June last year and 7 August this year shows a fan shaped deposit of debris and sediment after the flooding on 5 August. Several buildings, a patch of green vegetation and a road with a small connecting bridge have disappeared and are likely submerged or swept away by the mud flow and debris, Isro said. BBC colleagues reporting from the area say the affected zone is inaccessible because roads are damaged. The floods triggered by a cloudburst have left more than 100 missing. The Indian army has continued rescue operations and is providing medical aid.

BBC Verify’s report shows how satellite data can verify events when ground access is difficult. The images offer a snapshot of scale and change that can guide relief teams and inform the public. Yet satellite data must be paired with on site reporting to avoid overreliance on a single perspective. The piece also exposes the tension between rapid information and confirmed facts in disaster zones, where details evolve by the hour. In short, space born evidence is a powerful tool, but it needs careful interpretation and timely updates.

Highlights

Evidence moves from space to street, shaping how we respond to floods.