Uttarakhand cloudburst: 4 dead, dozens trapped; NDRF to deploy cadaver dogs in search op

Uttarkashi: A massive cloudburst unleashed devastating flashfloods in the Himalayan village of Dharali on Tuesday, killing at least four people and trapping 60–70 others under thick layers of slush and debris. The floodwaters, gushing from the catchment of the Kheer Ganga river, tore through buildings, roads, and trees, submerging nearly half the village in mud and rubble.

Dharali, a key stop for pilgrims en route to Gangotri and home to several hotels and homestays, bore the brunt of the calamity. Eyewitnesses said multi-storey buildings collapsed like "a house of cards" as torrents of water swept through the area.

Nearby Sukki village was also affected, with water rushing down both flanks of the same hill. Persistent rainfall into the evening severely hampered rescue efforts.

Access cut off, army, ITBP deployed
The flashfloods left the region, about 140 km from Dehradun, nearly inaccessible. State disaster officials said 163 roads were blocked across Uttarakhand due to landslides—including five national highways, seven state highways, and two key border roads.

An Army unit from nearby Harsil was rushed to the site, but other teams faced delays due to broken roads and hostile weather. A 16-member Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team managed to reach Dharali from its base in Matli, while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was still en route by nightfall.

Around 37 villagers, including 11 women and four children, were rescued and evacuated to the ITBP border post at Kopang, a senior officer said.

NDRF deploys cadaver dogs for first time
In a first for the state, the NDRF will deploy a pair of cadaver dogs to help locate bodies buried under the debris. The dogs will be airlifted from Delhi as part of a multi-agency rescue operation. Three NDRF teams—each with 35 personnel—have been mobilised from across the state.

Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed four deaths and warned the number of missing could rise, as many residents were caught off guard. Principal Secretary R K Sudhanshu said up to 50 buildings were damaged in the cloudburst, and helicopter assistance was ruled out due to poor weather.

Locals said much of Dharali’s market area had been washed away, with 20–25 hotels and homestays feared lost. As night fell, authorities issued evacuation alerts and urged residents to move to safer ground.

PM, ministers monitor rescue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and said he had spoken to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, with rescue efforts in full swing. “Relief efforts are underway under the supervision of the state government,” he posted on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah ordered seven rescue teams to the region and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed close coordination between central and state agencies.

Beds have been prepared at AIIMS Rishikesh and ambulances deployed to Dharali. CM Dhami, who was in Andhra Pradesh, cancelled his visit and returned to Dehradun, saying all teams were working “on war footing.”

More rain expected
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall across seven districts on Wednesday, including Nainital, Pauri, Tehri, and Dehradun.

Cloudbursts, defined as rainfall exceeding 100 mm in an hour over a small area, are among the most devastating weather events in the Himalayas. Uttarkashi, perched at an altitude of 1,160 metres, remains especially vulnerable.

A 2023 study by IIT Jammu and the National Institute of Hydrology warned that Uttarakhand experiences more frequent and intense cloudbursts than other Himalayan states. The study linked the trend to climate change and urged urgent reforms in disaster management and land use planning.