At least four people died and several remain missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods and a debris slide in Dharali village near Kheer Gad in Uttarakhand on Tuesday. Located just 10 km from the popular tourist spot Harshil in Uttarkashi district, the area was struck by sudden torrential rainfall that caused severe disruption.
Multiple rescue teams, including personnel from the Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire Department, and local police, are engaged in extensive relief and evacuation operations.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed that evacuation efforts were underway on a priority basis. “The government is closely monitoring the situation. All necessary resources have been deployed,” he said.
This latest incident adds to a growing list of extreme weather events that have struck the hill state in recent years, particularly during the monsoon.
Here is a look at the last five major cloudbursts or flash floods in Uttarakhand:
- Yamunotri Highway, Uttarkashi district (June 29, 2025)
Just over a month ago, a cloudburst struck near the Yamunotri National Highway, triggering a landslide that destroyed workers’ shelters. Two labourers were killed, and seven were reported missing. The Chardham Yatra was suspended for a day, and several roads were blocked across the region. Authorities had issued a red alert in multiple districts.
- Kedarnath Valley, Rudraprayag district (August 2, 2024)
A devastating cloudburst hit the Kedarnath Valley, resulting in flash floods and landslides last year in August. The situation was so severe that pilgrim movement was halted temporarily. The heavy rainfall led to multiple casualties and reminded people of the catastrophic floods in 2013.
- Ghansali, Tehri Garhwal district (August 1, 2024)
The Ghansali area witnessed a tragic cloudburst in which two people died and their son was injured after their eatery near the Nautar stream was washed away. Additionally, a cloudburst near the Bhim Bali stream caused landslides that damaged a 25-metre stretch of the Kedarnath walking path, temporarily stranding around 200 pilgrims.
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- Dharchula, Pithoragarh district (September 2022)
A cloudburst at the Khotila village, situated near the India-Nepal border, caused a flash flood on the Indian side of the Kali river. The sudden surge in water inundated homes with debris and mud, killing a local resident, Pashupati Devi.
- Dehradun, Tehri and Pauri Regions (August 20, 2022)
Cloudburst-related rainfall caused rivers to overflow in parts of Dehradun, Tehri, and Pauri. The Raipur-Kumalda region saw bridges collapse, while water entered the sacred Tapkeshwar temple caves along the Tons river. The Song river bridge was washed away and popular tourist spots like Kempty Falls saw dangerously high water levels. SDRF teams relocated residents from multiple affected villages.
