Heavy rain continued to impact Uttarakhand on Wednesday as rescue efforts were intensified in the aftermath of a devastating cloudburst in the ecologically fragile Uttarkashi district. The disaster, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, triggered a sudden mudslide and flash flood that swept through Dharali village, leaving at least four people dead, nine Army personnel missing, and many others feared to be trapped under debris.
The disaster began with a cloudburst in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river, which sent a powerful torrent of water, slush, and debris cascading down the hillsides. The destructive force of the flood overwhelmed Dharali and surrounding areas, leading to the confirmed deaths and trapping dozens.
Dramatic videos from Dharali, a key stopover on the way to the Gangotri shrine, depicted raging torrents of water surging through the village, burying a significant portion of it under rubble and mud. Officials reported that another wave of destruction flowed down the opposite slope toward the village of Sukki.
Rescue teams are facing significant challenges, including continuous heavy rain, treacherous terrain, and numerous road closures. The adverse weather has been a major hindrance, preventing the use of helicopters and cutting off crucial access routes.
In response to the ongoing severe weather, the meteorological department has issued a red alert for heavy rain today in several areas, including Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar, while an orange alert remains in effect for other regions. Consequently, schools and colleges are closed in Dehradun, Nainital, Tehri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Champawat, Pauri, Almora, and Bageshwar districts.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who returned early from a visit to Andhra Pradesh, convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening. He stated that the immediate priority is to save lives and instructed district authorities to accelerate search and relief operations and ensure that essential supplies reach the affected areas.
The disaster has also led to widespread road closures, with 163 roads blocked across the state. This includes five national highways, seven state highways, and two border roads, which is impeding the progress of rescue personnel attempting to reach the remote disaster site, located approximately 140 km from the state capital, Dehradun.
In an effort to bolster search operations, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed its first-ever team of specialized cadaver dogs to assist in locating those who are feared to be dead. A pair of these dogs will be airlifted from Delhi. Three NDRF teams, each consisting of 35 rescuers, have already been dispatched to the site from various locations within Uttarakhand. Two more teams are waiting for airlift from the Dehradun airport.
The persistent rainfall has also caused rivers to swell throughout the state. For safety reasons, the Kedarnath Dham pilgrimage has been temporarily suspended in Rudraprayag district due to the Alaknanda river's proximity to its danger mark. In Bageshwar, the Gomti and Sarayu rivers are also rushing, and Kotdwar and other hilly regions have been experiencing heavy rains on a regular basis.
Also Read: Flood fury: Cloudburst in Uttarkashi village, 4 killed
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