Uttarkashi, August 5: A devastating cloudburst struck the Dharali region of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand on Tuesday, causing widespread damage to homes, roads, and essential infrastructure. While the full extent of the destruction is still being assessed, officials have confirmed that relief and rescue operations are underway at full scale.
The sudden cloudburst led to flash floods and landslides, severely impacting the hilly terrain and cutting off access to several remote villages. Water levels in local streams surged rapidly, submerging homes and sweeping away vehicles and livestock.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep grief over the natural disaster and assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to safeguard lives and restore normalcy.
“The district administration, Indian Army, NDRF, and SDRF teams are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations. People are being moved to safer locations on priority, and the situation is being closely monitored,” the Chief Minister said in a post on social media.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local police and Army units, have been deployed in large numbers. Temporary shelters and medical camps have been established for those displaced, and efforts are underway to clear debris from blocked roads and restore communication lines.
Authorities have warned of potential further rainfall in the region and have urged locals to remain indoors and follow official advisories. The state disaster management authority is coordinating with central agencies to ensure a swift response to emerging needs.
The cloudburst in Uttarakhand comes amid extreme weather events across India. In Kerala, at least 48 people have been reported dead and over 100 injured following heavy rains and flooding in multiple districts. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts in several states for continued heavy rainfall in the coming days.
