A sudden surge of floodwater ripped through the Himalayan village of Dharali in India’s northern Uttarakhand state on Tuesday, killing at least four people and leaving several others unaccounted for, according to local authorities.
Footage from the scene reveals a torrent of water, mud, and debris cascading down the mountainside, obliterating homes, guesthouses, and businesses in its path.
The disaster struck at approximately 1:45 p.m. local time, confirmed Prashant Arya, the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi.
“At least four people were killed,” Arya stated. “There are a lot of guest houses, restaurants and hotels there, because of which we immediately requested the army to aid rescue operations.”
Rescue teams managed to save at least 20 individuals from the floodwaters, with search efforts continuing for those still missing, said Lt. Col. Manish Shrivastava, a defense spokesperson for Uttarakhand.
Disaster officials warn that dozens more could be trapped beneath the debris or swept away, with initial reports indicating that many homes and about a dozen hotels have been destroyed, as reported by the Associated Press.
Arya attributed the catastrophe to a sudden downpour, locally known as a cloudburst. “There’s a river there and because of the cloudburst, a lot of water came suddenly,” he explained.
Cloudbursts, extremely heavy, localized rainfall events, are particularly common in the Himalayan region. Defined by the India Meteorological Department as rainfall exceeding 100 mm (4 inches) per hour, these storms can rapidly trigger flash floods due to the mountainous terrain that funnels vast volumes of water into valleys and villages below.
Such cloudbursts often result in widespread devastation, but officials have not yet confirmed if Tuesday’s flood was caused by one.
Other potential triggers include dam breaches, upstream water releases, or glacial lake outburst floods—sudden events where melting ice weakens natural dams, unleashing torrents down the slopes. These are especially likely during the current season.
The Meteorological Department had issued its highest-level warning for “extremely heavy” rainfall across Uttarakhand ahead of the event. Some areas reportedly received up to 300 mm (12 inches) of rain within 24 hours.
The flooding underscores the region’s vulnerability during the Southwest Monsoon season, which runs from June to September.
While crucial for agriculture and water resources, the monsoon’s intense rains often overwhelm local infrastructure, resulting in deadly disasters like the one that struck Dharali.