Uttarakhand Floods: Devastating Impact in Dharali

Reference

A cloudburst and heavy rains caused a flash flood in the Kheer Ganga river in Dharali, Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand on August 5, 2025, which caused massive destruction.

About the recent flood disaster in Uttarakhand

Disaster Centre

• Dharali, Uttarkashi: This tourist destination is located on the way to Gangotri Dham, which is at an altitude of 8,600 feet above sea level.
• Situated on the banks of the Kheer Ganga river, this area has a lot of hotels and restaurants.

Causes

• Cloudburst: A cloudburst in the upper region of the Kheer Ganga river brought huge amounts of water and debris.
• Heavy rain: The Meteorological Department issued a warning of heavy rain in Uttarakhand till August 10, which made the situation more serious.
• Geographic Vulnerability: Unplanned urbanisation in the higher Himalayan regions and encroachment on river courses has increased the impact of floods.

Losses and Impacts

• Human Loss: At least four people have died and 60-70 people are missing or may be trapped under the debris.
• Property Damage: More than 25 hotels, guest houses and houses in the market area of Dharali were completely destroyed.
• Impact on Tourism: Dharali, a major halt for pilgrims going to Gangotri, now looks like a muddy river bank.
• Impact on Army Camp: The floods affected the army camp in the lower region of Harshil, with some soldiers missing.
• Cultural Loss: The ancient Kalpa Kedar temple, which resembles the architecture of Kedarnath Dham, was buried under the debris.

Rescue operations

• Immediate action: Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) immediately started rescue operations.
• Equipment and teams: Drones, thermal imaging cameras and special sniffer dogs are being used in the rescue operations.
• Helicopter support: The Army has deployed MI-17 and Chinook helicopters.

Challenges

• Bad weather: Incessant rains and landslides have made rescue operations difficult.
• Blocked roads: A 30-metre stretch of the Gangotri National Highway caved in, preventing rescue teams from reaching Dharali.
• Communication problems: Exchange of information is challenging due to poor connectivity.
• Amount of debris: Rescue operations are being hampered by the heavy debris brought by the Kheer Ganga river.
• Water level threat: The artificial lake formed due to debris in Bhagirathi river has increased the risk of flooding in the lower areas.

Way forward

• Immediate relief: Providing food, shelter and medical aid to the affected people should be a priority.
• Infrastructure repair: Damaged roads, bridges and communication lines need to be restored immediately.
• Long-term measures: Construction of protective walls along the river and strict rules should be implemented to prevent encroachment.
• Focus on climate change: According to experts, climate change and unplanned urbanization have increased the intensity of disasters. Sustainable development policies are needed for this.
• Awareness and preparedness: A better system should be developed for disaster management training and weather warnings to the local people.