Uttarakhand Cloudburst: 4 Dead, Over 50 Missing as Monster Landslide Wipes Out Village, Cuts Off Gangotri Dham

A catastrophic cloudburst triggered a massive landslide in Uttarakhand’s Dharali village on Tuesday afternoon, leaving at least four people dead and more than 50 missing. The disaster, which struck around 1:45 pm near the Indian Army’s Harsil camp, has completely cut off road connectivity to the sacred Gangotri Dham, unleashing a devastating torrent of water and debris that has overwhelmed the region.

The affected area, situated near the winter seat of Ganga Ji at Mukhba, was engulfed by the landslide, with dramatic visuals captured by tourists showing a violent stream of debris cascading down the hillsides, sweeping away houses and hotels. “Everything from hotels to markets has been destroyed… I haven’t witnessed a disaster like this before,” an eyewitness told India Today TV, conveying the sheer scale of the destruction.

The overflowing Kheer Gadh drain in the Harsil area exacerbated the devastation, prompting a massive, multi-agency rescue operation involving the Uttarkashi Police, SDRF, NDRF, and the Army. The Indian Army, stationed nearby, was among the first to respond, successfully rescuing at least 15 people from the deluge.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the incident as “deeply painful” and confirmed he was in constant contact with senior officials to monitor the situation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with the Chief Minister, assuring him of all necessary central assistance.

“Three nearby ITBP teams have been sent to the location, and four NDRF teams have also been dispatched to the site,” Shah stated on social media. However, rescue efforts are being severely hampered by blocked roads and persistent rainfall.

This tragedy is the latest in a series of monsoon-related disasters ravaging the Himalayan states. In Dehradun, continuous rainfall forced the closure of schools on Monday, while major rivers like the Ganga are flowing above the danger mark. Neighboring Himachal Pradesh is also facing severe challenges, with over 310 roads closed on Monday alone due to blockages.

The state has already recorded 103 deaths and 36 missing persons this monsoon season, with fatalities attributed to cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides, and other rain-related incidents. The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange’ alert for Himachal, warning of more heavy rainfall in the coming days.