At least 4 people died, meanwhile several remain missing. Indian Army personnel remain engaged in rescue operations across Dharali and Sukhi Top area.
Harrowing visuals have surfaced, including a striking clip from Dharali showing torrents of water cascading down the hills, washing away everything in their path.
PTI INFOGRAPHICS | A cloudburst led to a flashflood in the high altitude villages of Dharali on the way to Gangotri with the raging waters sweeping away several houses and leaving at least four people dead, officials said.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 5, 2025
Dharali is the main stopover on way to Gangotri and… pic.twitter.com/u9AuEhQNKv
Dharali is a key stopover on the route to Gangotri known for its hotels, restaurants, and homestays. It was hit by a devastating flash flood following a cloudburst in the Kheer Ganga river catchment area.
“Bhaag bhai bhaag, arre bhaag bhaag!” people screamed from a distance, as a man frantically tried to wade through the thick sludge and gushing water, mere moments after a powerful flash flood flattened Uttarakhand’s Dharali village. Surrounded by the shattered remains of homes and uprooted trees, he carefully made his way through the wreckage.
A man crawls through the mud.
— Yash Tiwari (@DrYashTiwari) August 5, 2025
Another runs as voices scream, “Bhago! Bhago!”
Panic. Desperation. Survival.
20 lives reportedly lost in the Tharali, Uttarkashi floods.
Many still missing.
Praying for strength to those who made it,
And peace to those who didn’t. 💔… pic.twitter.com/bccZ1PPQb4
Another chilling video from the scene showed residents screaming and fleeing as torrents of water ripped through the hillside village. The footage captured the chaos and fear as the surging floodwaters swept away structures and debris, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.
The TOI couldn't independently verify the video.
you can actually see people running for their life. this is scary and heartbreaking. prayers for their safetypic.twitter.com/ONkP82ZZtK
— SwatKat💃 (@swatic12) August 5, 2025
Another visual showed the Jyotirmath-Malari motor road, which has been completely washed away near Saldhar, cutting off access to several remote areas.
The damage severely impacted connectivity, posing challenges for rescue operations and the movement of essential supplies.
The Jyotirmath-Malari motor road has been washed out near Saldhar. Travellers and local residents are requested to avoid unnecessary travel: Chamoli Police, Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/qNke81IfJd
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2025
Landslides have blocked 163 roads across the state, including five national highways, seven state highways, and two border routes, severely disrupting rescue efforts and cutting off access to the remote area, located about 140 km from Dehradun and typically a five-hour drive away.
Another footage showed a village submerged by the flash floods. According to state disaster management secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, the raging waters split into two streams, surging down opposite sides of the same hill, one toward Dharali and the other toward Sukki village.
VIDEO | Uttarakhand: Cloudburst led to flash floods in the high altitude village of Dharali, Uttarkashi.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 5, 2025
(Source: Third Party)#Uttrakhand #Dharali pic.twitter.com/6xHhOml5gH
Cloudbursts are among the most destructive natural disasters in the Himalayas, bringing intense rainfall over small areas in a short time. Defined by the IMD as rainfall exceeding 100 mm per hour with strong winds and lightning across 20–30 sq km, cloudbursts are part of a broader pattern of extreme weather events in the region.
These events, including flash floods and avalanches, are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.
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