Flash Flood Havoc in Dharali: 6 Dead, Dozens Feared Trapped, several misding including six army Jawans, Over 80 Rescued So Far
Relief Ops On War Footing, IAF Assistance Sought, Uttarkashi administration caught napping.
Dharali (Uttarkashi), August 5 –
Tragedy struck the serene Himalayan village of Dharali in Uttarkashi district after a devastating flash flood in KheerGanga hit the area today.
As per official updates, six bodies have been recovered so far, while several people are feared buried under heavy slush and debris of dozens of shops and houses collapsed in the lightning flash flood.
Several Army jawans are also reported missing from the army camp located in the Valley.
Despite the fact that it has been raining heavily for the last few days in the state, the Uttarakhand administration was caught napping as it failed to out the river sides villages and towns on high alert for flash floods.
Over 80 people have been rescued in a swift and coordinated rescue operation led by multiple agencies including the ITBP, Army, SDRF, Fire Services, and Police.
Among the first to be pulled out from the disaster zone were 37 villagers—22 men, 11 women, and 4 children—who were safely taken to ITBP's BOP Kopang, where they were given immediate medical aid.
The KheerGanga comes all the way from half a dozens water sources and the cloud bursts uphill triggered the resultant flash flood that turned Dharali township located in its flood plains into a deluge scarred sludge land with buried houses and dead bodies, yet to be pulled out, said police sources
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in a statement, said:
“Every life is precious. We are conducting rapid and coordinated rescue efforts at ground zero. More than 80 people have been rescued so far.
Three senior officers have been appointed at the government level to oversee relief operations. We have also sought help from the Indian Air Force. I will personally visit the disaster-hit site. In this hour of crisis, the entire country stands with the victims.”
Local sources report that the sudden cloudburst triggered massive water flow in the region, sweeping away houses, livestock, and farmlands.
Access to some areas remains challenging due to debris and damaged routes. Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear blocked roads and reach remote spots.
Meanwhile, search and rescue operations continue at full pace as there are unconfirmed reports of more people being trapped under collapsed structures and muddy debris. Night-time operations may intensify depending on weather conditions and visibility.
The state government has issued a high alert in nearby villages and set up temporary shelters for displaced residents. Relief materials including food, water, and medicines are being rushed to the area.
The incident has once again brought into sharp focus the growing vulnerability of Himalayan regions to extreme weather events, with environmentalists flagging concerns about unchecked construction along th Riversides and climate-related triggers behind such disasters and lack of early warning system in vulnerablezones mainlyakong rivers and nullahs.
More updates awaited as rescue teams continue to dig through debris.
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