A humanitarian crisis has unfolded in Dharali village in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, after a catastrophic cloudburst triggered massive flash floods and landslides on Tuesday, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and families, and leaving over 60 people missing, including tourists and Army personnel.
As rescue operations stretched into Wednesday, grim scenes emerged from the once-tranquil Himalayan village located just 2 km from Harsil, a known Army base and an important staging post for pilgrims heading to Gangotri, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites and the sacred origin of the Ganga River.
A Village Engulfed in Mud and Debris
The deluge, described by officials as the result of a cloudburst around 2:30 PM on Tuesday, buried nearly half of Dharali under a dense layer of mud, boulders, and slush. Torrents of water gushed through narrow lanes, carrying with them homes, livestock, and vehicles, destroying everything in their path.
On Wednesday, officials confirmed the recovery of two bodies, including that of 35-year-old Akash Panwar. Rescue workers, led by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Army personnel, have so far rescued around 150 people, but heavy rainfall and blocked roads are severely hampering further efforts.
Missing Tourists and Army Personnel
Among those unaccounted for are 11 soldiers from the Army’s 14 Rajputana Rifles, stationed at a nearby camp that was also impacted by the disaster.
Additionally, a 28-member tourist group, including families from Kerala and Maharashtra, has been reported missing. The group was reportedly en route from Uttarkashi to Gangotri when the cloudburst occurred.
“We haven’t heard from them since Tuesday morning. All phones are unreachable,” said a relative of one of the missing tourists. The group had booked a 10-day Uttarakhand tour through a Haridwar-based travel agency and was last contacted near Harsil.
Families are now desperately seeking information, with some camping at control rooms and local shelters for any updates.
The Uttarakhand State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) confirmed that 51 other tourists from Maharashtra were stranded but safe. Of these, 11 are from Nanded, while the remaining hail from various districts across the state.
The Maharashtra government, in coordination with Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, is assisting in their evacuation.
Massive Multilateral Rescue Effort Underway
The Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, and ITBP are working around the clock to carry out rescue and relief work, despite severe logistical challenges.
Three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are en route to Dharali but have been delayed due to massive landslides on the Rishikesh–Uttarkashi Highway, a vital lifeline to the region.
Two additional NDRF teams are on standby in Dehradun, awaiting clearance for aerial deployment, once weather permits.
Col Harshvardhan, commanding officer of the 14 Rajputana Rifles, is personally leading a 150-member Army rescue team, even as some of their personnel remain missing.
“We are not giving up. Our team is moving forward with full courage despite the odds,” said Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Manish Shrivastava.
Over 200 personnel, including engineers from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), are currently stationed at Bhatwari, the closest road-accessible point, waiting for road access to resume.
A critical bridge over the Limaccha River, near Gangnani on the Gangotri National Highway, has been washed away, cutting off access and stranding additional personnel and equipment.
Chief Minister and PM Intervene, Helicopters on Standby
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday to assess the situation. The PM assured full central assistance and praised the joint efforts of civil and military agencies.
CM Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas around Dharali and Harsil, and met with injured Army personnel and family members of the missing. He emphasized that rescue operations are ongoing despite the challenges and that the government has mobilized essential supplies, food packets, and medical relief.
Over 160 police personnel have also been deployed to manage on-ground aid distribution and maintain order. All government departments, the Indian Army, and central agencies are working in total coordination. Every life is precious to us,” said Dhami.
He added that three senior nodal officers from the Chief Minister’s office have been assigned to monitor the situation in real-time.
Indian Army helicopters are on standby for airlifting rescue teams and evacuating stranded individuals, pending weather clearance. Meanwhile, temporary shelters and community kitchens have been established in safer zones to assist displaced villagers and tourists.
Heavy Rainfall Wreaks Havoc Across Uttarakhand
The Dharali disaster is not isolated. Incessant rains have caused rivers to swell across Uttarakhand, raising flood threats in multiple regions.
According to the Central Water Commission, rivers such as the Mandakini (Rudraprayag), Banganga (Haridwar), and Bhagirathi (Devprayag) are currently flowing above danger levels.
A landslide on Tuesday evening in the Motichur range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve brought rail traffic to a halt between Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun after debris fell on the tracks. The Indian Railways has since set up a help desk at Haridwar station to assist stranded passengers.
Climate Change and Himalayan Fragility
Experts and environmentalists have long warned of the increasing vulnerability of the Himalayan ecosystem due to climate change, unchecked development, and deforestation. Cloudbursts, once rare, are becoming disturbingly frequent, especially during monsoons.
The fragile slopes of Uttarakhand are prone to erosion and landslides, and villages like Dharali — perched near riverbanks and steep ridges — often bear the brunt of nature’s fury.
The 2025 Dharali tragedy now joins a long list of such disasters in the state, from the 2013 Kedarnath floods to the Chamoli glacier burst in 2021. The question remains — how many more lives will be lost before there is a comprehensive, sustainable disaster mitigation strategy?
The Road Ahead
For now, rescue and relief efforts continue under extremely challenging conditions. Roads are blocked, communication lines are down, and the weather remains unpredictable.
The resilience of the people of Uttarakhand and the determination of rescue workers are on full display, but the tragedy underscores the urgent need for long-term climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure upgrades in the Himalayan region.
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