浙江举办首届亲水节 倡导公众节水护水

Reacting to the cloudburst in Uttarkashi, Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat expressed concern over the frequency of such disasters. “It’s concerning. Such incidents are happening in several places,” he said on X. Rawat blamed “uncontrolled and unlimited development” for the crisis, warning that even the Himalayas have a threshold. “How much can they hold?” he asked, urging a rethink on development in ecologically fragile zones.

Following the devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi, geologist Rajesh Paul has called for urgent multihazard mapping in the region while speaking to PTI. “Cloudbursts, landslides, floods, earthquakes — many types of calamities occur here,” he said. “We should identify safe zones through proper study and allow development only in those areas. Building design should also be adapted to suit the region’s terrain and risk profile,” he added, stressing the need for proactive disaster planning in Uttarakhand’s vulnerable zones.

In view of the India Meteorological Department’s warning for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, authorities in several districts of Uttarakhand have declared a precautionary holiday for all schools from Class 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centres. Districts that have announced closures include Champawat, Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar, Almora, Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Rudraprayag. Officials have advised residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel as rain-related disruptions continue across the state.

Northern Railways said a boulder fell on the track between Haridwar and Motichur on the busy Haridwar-Dehradun rail route, but no injuries or casualties were reported. A protective canopy had already been installed at the location, preventing any major damage.

Following the devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Commander Arpan Yaduvanshi said teams were rushed to the spot as soon as information arrived. “Around 70–80 people have been rescued and taken to safe locations in Gangotri,” he said in a video he shot amid rescue missions and was later accessed by ANI.

He added that another team, including paramedics, a dog squad, and advanced rescue equipment, is en route to the affected site. “A total of 80–85 SDRF personnel will be on the ground by late tonight or early tomorrow morning. Search and rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spoke with Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami over the phone and expressed condolences to the families of those affected by the disaster. CM Yogi assured CM Dhami of all possible assistance from the Uttar Pradesh government, according to a statement from the UP Chief Minister’s Office.

After twin cloudbursts triggered flash floods near Dharali village and the Harsil Army Camp on Tuesday, disturbing visuals surfaced on social media showing people and buildings being swept away as the swollen Kheer Ganga River overflowed into the village, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.

At least nine Indian Army personnel are feared missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods and a mudslide near the Harshil Army camp in Uttarakhand’s Dharali village. The cloudburst occurred in the Kheer Ganga River’s catchment area, around 4 km from the base. Rescue ops are on in challenging conditions.

At least nine Indian Army personnel are feared missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods and a mudslide near the Harshil Army camp in Uttarakhand’s Dharali village. The cloudburst occurred in the Kheer Ganga River’s catchment area, around 4 km from the base. Rescue ops are on in challenging conditions.

A tourist who recently visited Gangotri shared photos from Dharali, saying they had stayed in one of the local hotels and captured the bustling markets from their window.

The images show the scale of what was once a busy stop for pilgrims and travellers.

Train services briefly hit as a boulder rolled onto the track between Haridwar and Motichur.

Restoration work is underway. Traffic expected to resume shortly.

In response to the ongoing disaster in Uttarkashi, the Uttarakhand government has rushed senior police officials and special units to the affected areas to bolster rescue and relief efforts.

According to a post shared by the official Uttarakhand Police handle on X, two Inspector Generals (IG), three Superintendents of Police (SP), one Commandant, and eleven Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySP), along with supporting police personnel, have been deployed to the region. Special forces units are also part of the contingent being mobilised.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued alerts since August 1 warning of heavy to extremely heavy rain over Uttarakhand. Fresh warnings were updated on August 4 and again on August 5, flagging possible impact. The agency continues to forecast isolated heavy rainfall across parts of the state.

Heavy rains triggered landslides in parts of Chamoli, blocking key stretches of the Badrinath highway, including Karnaprayag, Pagal Nala, Kanchan Ganga, and Bhanirpani.
Debris has choked road access, prompting authorities to halt Char Dham pilgrims at safe locations. Efforts are on to clear the roads and restore connectivity.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said he will travel to Uttarkashi once the weather clears and camp there for two days to oversee relief efforts. He is expected to visit the State Disaster Control Room at 9 AM on Wednesday to review the situation and hold a meeting with officials on ongoing rescue and rehabilitation work.

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Uttarakhand government officials told news agency ANI that teams of the Army, ITBP, NDRF and SDRF have rescued 130 people so far.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has requested people to unnecessary travel until the weather normalises, after the weather department has issued a warning of heavy rainfall in several areas of the state. “Your safety is our topmost priority. Please stay vigilant and follow the guidelines issued by the administration.”

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the devastation in Uttarkashi’s Dharali after a cloudburst today was the result of the “mistreatment of nature by some selfish individuals.” He demanded rescue and relief operations to be carried out on a war footing and every possible effort be made to save people’s lives.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said a district-level emergency control room has been established in Uttarkashi after a deadly cloudburst in Dharali and a team of specialist doctors has been deployed to the site.

He said instructions have been given to the administration to remain on 24-hour alert mode to ensure that the affected are transported to safe locations, provided with necessary medical and relief supplies, given better treatment for the injured, and extended every possible assistance.

Terming the Uttarkashi incident a natural disaster, Dhami said state and central agencies were working together to manage the crisis.

The Uttarakhand CM said he has asked the Army to deploy helicopters to boost the ongoing rescue and evacuation efforts.

The CM said he will be travelling to the disaster site tomorrow to take stock of the ongoing relief operations.

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Uttarakhand CM said at least 70 people have been rescued from Dharali, one of the worst-hit areas in the district.

At least 8 to 10 Indian Army soldiers have been reported missing from a camp in the lower Harsil area following Tuesday’s cloudburst and flash floods in Uttarkashi, Army officials told ANI.

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Cloudbursts are not new to Uttarakhand. This fragile Himalayan state has witnessed several such events over the years, often triggering flash floods and landslides with devastating consequences. One of the most catastrophic incidents occurred in June 2013, when a cloudburst over Kedarnath unleashed flash floods that killed thousands. The disaster remains one of the deadliest natural calamities in independent India’s history. Entire villages were swept away, roads and bridges destroyed, and the pilgrimage circuit brought to a halt. In August 2021, another cloudburst struck Dharchula in Pithoragarh, causing widespread damage and multiple deaths. Similar events were also reported in Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and parts of Tehri in recent years, many of them coinciding with the monsoon’s peak activity in July and August. Experts blame the increasing frequency of cloudbursts on a combination of factors: climate change, unplanned construction, deforestation, and fragile mountain ecosystems.

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Three IAS officers have been tasked with overseeing the rescue operations in Uttarkashi. All three have been directed to reach the affected region immediately, officials confirmed to CNN-News18.

Following the cloudburst in Uttarkashi, 25–30 hotels have been washed away, officials told CNN-News18. The deluge has also led to the formation of a temporary lake in the area, triggering further concerns for downstream settlements. Rescue efforts continue as authorities assess the full scale of the damage.

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BJP MLA from Gangotri, Suresh Chauhan, told CNN-News18 that at least 20–22 people have been rescued so far by a 150-member team stationed at the Harshil Valley base. He said, “Efforts are still on to save the locals. I am present at the control room myself.” Chauhan added that nearly 20–25 buildings have been completely demolished in the aftermath of the cloudburst. “There is a lot of loss that has taken place,” he said. He also mentioned that Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami is currently holding a video conference.

BJP MLA from Gangotri, Suresh Chauhan, told CNN-News18 that 300 to 400 people who were stranded in Dharali due to flash floods and landslides have now been moved to safety. He said rescue operations are ongoing in the area as weather conditions remain challenging. Authorities are also monitoring other vulnerable spots in the region.

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The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for multiple districts in Uttarakhand, warning of very heavy rain and thunderstorms between 6 pm and 9 pm on Tuesday. The warning covers Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Rudra Prayag, Udham Singh Nagar and Uttarkashi districts. Specific areas on alert include Janaki Chatti, Pulam Sumda, Purola, Barahat Range, Chinyalisaur, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Karnaprayag, Lohaghat, Didihat, Munsyari, Rudrapur, Khatima and Jaspur. The alert comes hours after a cloudburst in Dharali village triggered flash floods and landslides, killing at least four and leaving many missing. Rescue operations are ongoing.

A cloudburst in Uttarkashi’s Dharali village on Tuesday triggered flash floods and landslides, leaving behind scenes of destruction and moments of survival. In a dramatic video from the site, a man is seen crawling out from beneath a mound of mud and rubble, dazed but alive. The incident, which struck the high-altitude village in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, has left at least four people dead. Several others are missing as rescue teams, including the Indian Army and NDRF, work through difficult terrain to locate survivors.

NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi on Tuesday said that three well-equipped teams have been sent to Harsil in Uttarkashi following the cloudburst and flash floods. Speaking to reporters, he said the incident occurred around 2 PM and initial reports suggest that 40 to 50 houses have been washed away and over 50 people are missing. “A large-scale rescue operation will have to be carried out there,” Shahedi said, adding that each team consists of 35 personnel trained in search and rescue.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and those missing after the devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi’s Dharali village. “Hearing the news of some people’s deaths and a large number of people missing… has deeply saddened my heart. May God grant peace to the departed souls,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter), also urging the Uttarakhand government to provide immediate help, relief and compensation to the victims. She further appealed to Congress leaders and workers to support the ongoing rescue operations in any way possible.

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday expressed grief over the tragic cloudburst in Uttarkashi that has left at least four dead and caused large-scale destruction in Dharali village and nearby areas. “The news of the cloudburst incident in Uttarkashi is extremely tragic. I express my condolences to the affected families and wish for success in the relief and rescue operations,” the President posted on X (formerly Twitter).

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A landslide hit near Dharali village in Uttarkashi, around 4 km from the Army’s Harshil camp, at approximately 1:45 PM on Tuesday, the Indian Army said, adding that it quickly deployed 150 personnel to the site, launching rescue efforts within 10 minutes. So far, over 20 civilians have been evacuated safely, while the injured are receiving treatment at the Army’s medical facility in Harshil. Search and rescue operations are still underway, with teams working to locate anyone who may be trapped. The Army has assured that it is committed to providing all necessary support to those affected.

Arvind Kejriwal expressed grief over the devastation caused by the cloudburst in Uttarkashi’s Dharali village. “My condolences to the families affected by this horrific tragedy. May God help everyone recover from this crisis soon,” the former Delhi CM said in a post on X. He also appealed to AAP workers in Uttarakhand to assist the administration in relief and rescue efforts and extend all possible help to those in need.

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The cloudburst in Dharali occurred in the catchment area of a local stream known as the Kheer Ganga or Kheer Gadh river, which flows into the Bhagirathi. The glacial tributary, named for its milky appearance, swelled rapidly after the cloudburst, triggering flash floods and landslides. The Uttarkashi Police said rising water levels in this stream near Harsil led to significant damage in Dharali, prompting a large-scale response from police, SDRF, the Army, and other agencies. This Kheer Ganga is a local water body in Uttarakhand, distinct from Himachal Pradesh’s Kheerganga trek region.

Amid warnings of continued heavy rainfall, the Uttarkashi administration has announced that all government and private schools, along with aanganwadis, will remain closed on Wednesday as a precautionary measure. Officials have also instructed local authorities to make loudspeaker announcements urging residents in low-lying and riverside areas to vacate their homes and move to safer locations.

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It may sound unbelievable, but during a cloudburst, skies can dump billions of litres of water in just a few minutes, enough to flood entire villages and uproot roads, bridges and homes. In Uttarkashi, locals had barely minutes to react as water gushed down slopes with terrifying speed, triggering landslides and destruction.

Uttarakhand is ecologically sensitive because it sits in the young, unstable Himalayan region. The steep slopes and loose soil make it prone to landslides, especially during heavy rain. Cloudbursts often lead to flash floods. Rapid development, deforestation and tourism have disturbed the natural balance. It’s also in a high earthquake zone, which adds to the disaster risk. On top of that, climate change is melting glaciers faster, raising the threat of sudden floods from glacial lakes. All of this makes the state highly vulnerable to natural disasters, especially during the monsoon.