UPDATE: Cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Dharali and Sukhi Top Triggers Massive Flash Floods in Himalayas, Dozens Feared Trapped

A second cloudburst in Uttarkashi’s Sukhi Top region within hours of the first one in Dharali village has turned Tuesday into one of the most catastrophic days for the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in recent memory. 

Triggered by torrential rains in the upper catchment of the Kheer Ganga river, the initial cloudburst unleashed massive flash floods that swept through Dharali village, part of the sacred Gangotri route. This has caused widespread destruction. 

Image Source: Uttarkashi Police

As rescue teams scrambled to respond to the unfolding disaster, the administration confirmed another cloudburst, deepening fears of compounding devastation across the district.

The Chamoli Police confirmed that the Jyotirmath-Malari motor road had been washed out near Saldhar, urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel. 

Roads across the Badrinath National Highway, including near Paagalnala and Bhanerpani, have also been blocked by debris, halting both civilian and emergency mobility in several pockets of the state. 

Local residents and travelers were caught off guard as rising river currents tore through villages, sweeping away everything in their path, including shops, hotels, homestays, and livestock. 

Residents of Dharali reported that between 20 to 25 hospitality establishments may have been completely destroyed. As per locals, at least 10–12 labourers are feared to be trapped beneath layers of mud, timber, and collapsed masonry.

#MudslideReliefOperations#HADR

Update: 📍 Landslide at Dharali, Uttarakhand
05 August 2025

A landslide struck near Dharali village, approximately 4 km from the Indian Army Camp at Harshil, at around 1:45 PM today.

Responding with urgency, the #IndianArmy swiftly mobilised… pic.twitter.com/e8QajmsvFr

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) August 5, 2025

The flash flood, which began around 1:45 pm near Dharali, just 4 km from the Indian Army camp at Harshil, prompted immediate deployment of Indian Army personnel. 

Visuals from the region show a torrent of muddy water surging through the narrow lanes of mountain villages, with residents screaming for help as debris blocked all escape. 

With rainfall predicted to intensify until August 10, the Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for large swathes of the hill state.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and local police have all been pressed into action. 

Teams are navigating landslides, collapsed infrastructure, and relentless rainfall to access affected areas, particularly Dharali and Sukhi Top. 

However, as water levels continue to rise and remote mountain roads remain blocked, rescue operations are being severely tested.

🚨 "𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁." 🪖

📍Kheer Gad, Dharali Village | Uttarkashi | 1345 Hrs, 05 Aug 2025

A massive mudslide struck #Dharali village in the #KheerGad area near Harsil, triggering sudden flow of debris and water through the… pic.twitter.com/FwPPMrIpqu

— SuryaCommand_IA (@suryacommand) August 5, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences, expressing grief over the lives lost and confirming he has spoken with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. 

He assured citizens that relief operations are underway and that "no stone is being left unturned" in the government’s response. 

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All You Need To Know: Flash Floods Strike Uttarkashi After Cloudburst, Dozens Feared Missing as Himalayan Fury Returns

Union Home Minister Amit Shah echoed that sentiment after his own call with the chief minister, directing both NDRF and ITBP teams to rush additional reinforcements to the region. 

Shah emphasised that the Centre is closely monitoring the situation.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also reacted to the news, urging Congress workers in the region to support rescue and relief operations. 

Meanwhile, local accounts continued to surface, who say homes and businesses were reduced to rubble in minutes, and that screams from trapped residents could still be heard beneath debris.

Have been seeing disturbing visuals from Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) on the devastation caused by flash floods. Praying for the well-being of the people affected by the tragedy. The Centre and the State Government are working in tandem, taking all possible measures to save precious…

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 5, 2025

Tuesday’s twin cloudbursts are being seen in grim comparison to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster that left thousands dead and was widely viewed as one of the worst natural calamities in India’s recent history. 

Like that tragedy, this one too is a deadly reminder of the fragile ecology of the Himalayan belt and the devastating cost of intensifying monsoon patterns amid ongoing climate change.

Rescue efforts continue as Uttarakhand stares down yet another chapter in its turbulent monsoon history, with many still missing, roads destroyed, and meteorological warnings predicting more rain in the days ahead.