The cloudburst in Dharali village, in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, caused a major disaster. A landslide, triggered by the water surge, buried the village under debris. Many people were trapped and buried in the rubble, including the 11 laborers from West Champaran district, Bihar. After five days, there is still no trace of the laborers. The affected families are in deep distress. Most of the missing laborers are from the Sarghatiya Panchayat’s Mangalhiya village, with eight individuals unaccounted for.

Postponing his visit to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami arrived at the State Emergency Operations Center in Dehradun on the evening of August 5, 2025, and reviewed the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the disaster-affected areas. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami by phone, gathering information about the incident and assuring all possible assistance.

Soldiers went missing due to a cloudburst near the Harshil camp. The army reports that two soldiers have been found safe, while nine are still missing and the search is ongoing. Dharali is located approximately 20 kilometers before Gangotri Dham and is a major stopover on the pilgrimage route. Debris continues to flow through the area. The nearby Bhagirathi River and the flowing debris are now indistinguishable. The ground has become completely muddy.

Emergency alerts have been issued in some areas. The Uttarakhand Disaster Management Authority has issued a red alert to the district magistrates of Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar, based on warnings from the meteorological department. Administrations in these areas have been instructed to prepare for potential disasters. District magistrates in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh districts have been advised to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions under an orange alert. The risk of floods and landslides has increased due to continuous rainfall in sensitive areas of the state. Schools in Uttarkashi have been closed. The rain will hinder rescue and relief operations.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami arrived at the State Emergency Operations Center in Dehradun from his visit to Andhra Pradesh. Here, he is coordinating relief and rescue efforts with senior officials from the administration, police, and other agencies. He stated that restoring electricity is a top priority and that rescue operations are underway. The Pushkar Dhami government has approved 20 crore rupees to effectively carry out relief and rescue work.

The Uttarakhand government issued a statement stating that rescue and relief operations are ongoing, led by the Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, and SDRF. According to officials, over 130 people have been rescued so far. The State Disaster Management Center is in constant contact with district magistrates and the SSP.

People have been brought to the ITBP camp in Kopang. Joint teams from the army, ITBP, and local administration have rescued affected people and moved them to safe locations. All those affected are being accommodated in the ITBP camp in Kopang. According to the ITBP, everyone listed on the relief list is safe, and they are being provided with essential facilities at the camp. The administration is continuously monitoring the situation and is prepared for additional assistance. Rescue operations are ongoing rapidly following the disaster. The State Control Room is monitoring the situation in Dharali.

The cloudburst in Dharali caused the village to be decimated. Hundreds of houses and hotels were buried in debris and washed away in just 34 seconds. Four people have died, and over 50 are reported missing. Authorities indicate the death toll may rise. SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, and army teams are engaged in rescue operations. Over 130 people have been rescued so far. The government has released 20 crore rupees for relief, rescue, and repair work.

The State Police Headquarters reported the rapid deployment of senior police officers and special police forces for disaster relief in Uttarkashi. This includes 2 IG, 3 SP, one Commandant, 11 Deputy SPs, and 300 police personnel.

Cloudbursts also occurred in Harshil and Sukki. Several army personnel are reported missing in Harshil. The army’s base camp has also been affected by the rain and floods. Lieutenant Colonel Manish Srivastava reported that 11 soldiers are feared missing in the flood. Rescue operations are hampered by heavy rain and disrupted connectivity, but the army is actively involved in its operations.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Manish Srivastava, Colonel Harshvardhan, the Commanding Officer of 14 Rajrif, is leading the relief and rescue efforts following the Dharali disaster. His team of 150 soldiers is working on this challenging mission. Despite their unit’s base being affected, and with 11 soldiers missing, the team is working with great courage and determination. He stated that 20 people have been rescued.

Amidst the rescue and relief operations, heavy rainfall continues in several areas of Uttarakhand, including Bageshwar and Kotdwar. Schools are closed in nine districts of the state due to the Red Alert and Orange Alert for heavy rainfall.

Schools will be closed today in Dehradun, Nainital, Tehri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Champawat, Pauri, Almora, and Bageshwar districts. The order includes all educational institutions from classes 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centers.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that phone, internet, and towers have been significantly damaged in the disaster-affected area. Special Disaster Relief Units of PAC and IRB have been deployed. To expedite relief and rescue operations in Uttarkashi, a special disaster relief unit (E Company) of the 40th Battalion PAC and C Company of IRB-II, Dehradun, with a total of 140 personnel, have been sent.

Additionally, 160 police personnel and essential equipment have been deployed from Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, and Tehri to the affected areas.

Considering the disaster, beds have been reserved in district hospitals of Uttarkashi, Tehri, and Dehradun, as well as at Doon Medical College and AIIMS Rishikesh. The health department has been put on alert after the incident, and doctors’ leaves have been suspended.

Furthermore, the administration is deploying machinery around the clock at all landslide zones. However, delays are being faced due to ongoing challenges on the roads, affecting senior district officials.

On the other hand, roads blocked by landslides on the Uttarkashi-Harshil route are being cleared with the help of JCBs.

Approximately 30 meters of road near Papadgad on the Gangotri Highway has collapsed, completely cutting off contact between the Harshil and Dharali areas and the district and tehsil headquarters.

It is believed that the rain in Uttarkashi has taken a severe form due to a disturbance originating from the Mediterranean Sea. The pattern of the disaster in Uttarkashi was similar to the devastating floods in Kedarnath in 2013. Both events were caused by a western disturbance from the Mediterranean Sea colliding with the Himalayas.

The District Administration of Uttarkashi has issued helpline numbers to provide information and updates on the situation. These numbers are 01374-222126 and 222722, and contact can also be made at 9456556431 (DEOC Uttarkashi). The incident occurred near Dharali village in the Khirgad area of Uttarkashi district, where a severe landslide caused a torrent of debris and water to reach the village, triggering panic. The Army’s Ibex Brigade has been dispatched to assist.