Uttarkashi Floods Horror: Six Dead, 50 Missing, Over 1,800 Pilgrims Evacuated
DEHRADUN/UTTARKASHI, AUGUST 6, 2025 — A powerful cloudburst triggered flash floods and landslides in Uttarkashi district on Monday night, leaving at least six people dead and more than 50 missing.
The worst-hit area was Dharali village, located near the Gangotri route, where floodwaters swept through homes, hotels, and roads, causing widespread destruction.
According to officials, two separate cloudbursts occurred — one near Khir Ganga in Dharali and the other at Sukhi Top, both resulting in major landslides and blockage of roads, including the strategic Uttarkashi–Harsil highway.
Several houses and vehicles were buried under debris.
Rescue operations by the Army, NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, and Uttarakhand Police are ongoing.
So far, 135 people have been rescued — 100 from Dharali and 35 from the Harsil area.
Over 1,800 pilgrims stranded along the Char Dham Yatra route, including Kedarnath and Gangotri, have also been safely evacuated.
Among the missing are 11 Army personnel from the Harsil camp, which also suffered heavy damage in the flash flood. Search teams are working round the clock under difficult weather and terrain conditions.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey and has directed officials to stay on high alert.
A relief fund of ₹20 crore has been announced. Schools in several districts have been closed due to bad weather. The IMD has issued further rain and landslide warnings till August 10.
In a heartening moment amid the chaos, SI Suraj Kandari and SDRF Head Constable Mahesh Chand carried a disabled pilgrim on their shoulders through a blocked path to safety near Gaurikund.
The Indian Army has ramped up its humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations in Dharali, Uttarakhand, following a massive landslide triggered by a cloudburst earlier this week. So far, over 70 people have been rescued from the affected region.
Two additional Army columns have been deployed to Gangotri and Dharali, while earth-moving equipment is being used to clear the blocked road between Harsil and Dharali. The terrain remains challenging, but efforts are underway to restore access and reach isolated pockets.
Rescue teams, assisted by drones and trained sniffer dogs, are actively searching for stranded civilians. Medical camps have been set up, and evacuees are beiads across Uttarakhand remain blocked due to landslides, hampering rescue and relief work.
Helicopter sorties are being considered for reaching marooned areas.
The situation remains serious, with continuous rain posing new challenges.
Authorities are urging people to avoid travel to high-risk zones and follow official advisories closely.
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