No fewer than 100 people are missing and at least one has died after devastating flash floods in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.
Rescue activities are underway in Uttarkashi district after a big wave of water swept down the slopes into Dharali hamlet on Tuesday, burying roads and structures in its path.
According to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, approximately 190 persons have been rescued thus far in the impacted region.
A cloudburst is a quick and intense rainfall of rain over a narrow region, which frequently causes flash floods.
Heavy rain and damaged roads have hampered rescue teams from reaching Dharali. On Wednesday, Dhami flew in by helicopter and met some of the affected families.
Uttarakhand, home to Dharali village, has been among the worst hit by flooding.
The floods struck on Tuesday around 13:30 India time (08:00 GMT), causing the Kheerganga river to swell dramatically and send tonnes of muddy water crashing down the hills.
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Dharali, a summer tourist destination 2 kilometres from Harsil, is home to a significant Indian army post and an Indo-Tibetan Border Police camp.
According to officials, at least ten soldiers stationed at the army installation have gone missing.
Rescue attempts are delayed because to the heavy mud and debris, but officials have deployed aircraft to assist.
The muck has also blocked a portion of the Bhagirathi River, which becomes India’s holiest river, the Ganges, as it flows downstream, creating an artificial lake that has inundated significant regions, including a government helipad.
Officials are concerned that if the water is not evacuated promptly, it may pose a major threat to towns and villages downstream.
India’s weather department has projected heavy rain and recommended people avoid landslide-prone areas. Some schools have shuttered across the state.
Officials have issued repeated rain alerts in recent days, discouraging tourists from entering the region.
Dharali receives fewer visitors during the rainy season. The minimal footfall and warnings likely kept tourists safe during the downpour. Residents warn that a larger throng could have exacerbated the calamity.
Uttarakhand, located in the western Himalayas, is particularly vulnerable to flash floods and landslides.
In 2021, more than 200 people died in flash floods caused by a cloudburst.
One of the deadliest calamities to strike Uttarakhand occurred in 2013, when a cloudburst brought devastating floods and landslides, destroying several villages and towns.
Much of the destruction occurred in Kedarnath, a renowned Hindu pilgrimage destination. Thousands of people were swept away, and many bodies were never found.
