A devastating cloudburst has triggered flash floods in a Himalayan village in northern India, resulting in at least four deaths and leaving more than 50 people missing. The disaster struck Dharali village in Uttarakhand state’s Uttarkashi district, where torrents of muddy water swept away buildings and left a wide swath of debris in their wake.
Videos broadcast on Indian media showed the terrifying surge of water and mud, with several people running for their lives before being engulfed by the dark waves of debris. The Indian Army described the incident as a “massive mudslide” that struck the village, triggering a sudden flow of debris and water through the settlement.
Rescue teams were deployed “on a war footing” to the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, said state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in a statement. “We are doing everything possible to save lives and provide relief,” he added. Teams from the army and disaster response forces reached the area, with workers trying to rescue people trapped under debris and sludge.
India’s National Disaster Management Authority requested three helicopters from the federal government to assist in the rescue and relief operations, as rescuers struggled to access the remote terrain. “Luckily, most of the people were at a fair in a safe location,” said a disaster official, who asked not to be named.
The incident highlights the increasing threat of cloudbursts in the region, which have become more common in recent years due to climate change. Sudden, intense downpours over small areas known as cloudbursts have the potential to wreak havoc by causing intense flooding and landslides, affecting thousands of people in the mountainous regions.
A 2023 report by the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development found that glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates across the Hindu Kush and Himalayan Mountain ranges. The study warned that at least 200 of the more than 2,000 glacial lakes in the region are at risk of overflowing, which can cause catastrophic damage downstream.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to those affected by the tragedy, saying, “No stone is being left unturned in providing assistance to the people.” The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert warning for the area, recording “extremely heavy” rainfall of about 21cm (8in) in isolated parts of Uttarakhand.
The government has asked schools to remain closed in several districts, including Dehradun and Haridwar cities, as the region braces for more heavy rains in the coming days. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of climate-related disasters and the need for urgent action to mitigate their effects.