Uttarakhand floods update

Heavy rains have triggered flash floods in Uttarkashi, hindering rescue work and leaving dozens unaccounted for.

Uttarakhand floods claim one life and leave 66 missing as rescue continues

Weeks of heavy rain have pounded Uttarakhand, with the Uttarkashi region, including Dharali village, among the worst hit. Around 1,300 people have been rescued from near Dharali since last week, officials said. Heavy rains last week had led to the swelling of the Kheerganga river in the region, sending tonnes of muddy waters gushing downwards on the hilly terrain, covering roads, buildings and shops in Dharali and nearby Harsil village.
Videos showed a giant wave of water gushing through the area, crumpling buildings in its path, giving little time for people to escape. Uttarakhand's chief minister and other officials initially said the flash floods were caused by a cloudburst, but India's weather department has not confirmed this. Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior local official, said a team of 10 geologists has been sent to the village to determine the cause of the flash floods.
The sludge from Kheerganga blocked a part of the region's main river Bhagirathi which becomes India's holiest river Ganges once it travels downstream and created an artificial lake, submerging vast tracts of land, including a government helipad. Rescue workers are still trying to drain the lake, which had initially receded but filled up again after more rains. Mr Pandey said in a statement that a list of missing people included 24 Nepalese workers, 14 locals, nine army personnel and 13 and six individuals from the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, respectively. Locals, however, have told reporters that more people from the area are still unaccounted for.

The disaster exposes how quickly weather shocks overwhelm small towns in the foothills. Officials are still assessing the cause, while rescue teams battle blocked roads and a flooded landscape that complicates access to Dharali and Harsil. The mixed signals about a cloudburst and the ongoing geological review underline the uncertainty that accompanies fast-moving floods. In the short term, the priority is relief and rapid clearance of lanes for aid, yet the broader question is whether local infrastructure and early warning systems are keeping pace with increasingly severe downpours. The human toll, including Nepalese workers and local residents, highlights the cross-border and community-wide impact of such events and the strain on already stretched rescue networks.

Highlights

The valley is watching for signs of steady relief and a clearer map of what lies ahead.