Cloudburst In Uttarkashi Washes Away Village; Army Deployed

UTTARKASHI – A devastating cloudburst struck the Dharali area near Harsil in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on August 5, washing away a village and leaving several residents reportedly missing. The calamity, which occurred around 1:45 PM, triggered flash floods and landslides, causing widespread destruction in the region. The number of casualties is not yet known

The sudden surge in water levels, particularly in Kheer Gadh near Dharali, caused large-scale damage in the local market area. In response, a massive and immediate rescue operation was launched by various agencies, including the Indian Army, police, fire department, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

Rescue teams evacuated trapped villagers and providing critical assistance on the ground. The Army confirmed that search and rescue efforts are still underway.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep concern over the disaster, calling the news “extremely sad and distressing.”

The cloudburst followed a warning issued by the India Meteorological Department for “extremely heavy rainfall” in parts of Uttarakhand, including Uttarkashi, from August 4 onwards. In light of the alert, the Dehradun district administration had ordered the closure of all schools up to Class 12 and Anganwadi centers on August 4. (IANS)