A powerful cloudburst early Tuesday morning in Uttarkashi’s Dharali village near Harsil caused sudden flash floods, leaving behind a trail of destruction and panic. Villagers woke up to terrifying scenes of rising waters from the Kheer Ganga river, sweeping away homes, roads, and shops within minutes.

The sudden rise caught everyone's attention. Locals say the floodwaters came crashing through the village with such intensity that people barely had time to react. Around 10 to 12 labourers are feared trapped under debris, as rescue teams from the SDRF, the Army, and local police scramble to find survivors.

“Everything happened so quickly, people were shouting, and water was everywhere. Within moments, houses just vanished,” said Rajesh Panwar, a resident of Dharali, who also feared that nearly 25 homestays and hotels were washed away in the flood. 

Disturbing visuals from the site showed raging floodwaters tearing through buildings, while villagers watched helplessly. Search and rescue operations are still underway, with teams arriving from nearby Harsil and Bhatwari. The state government is closely monitoring the situation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and directed ITBP and NDRF teams to reach the affected areas immediately. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has warned of continued heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand till August 10, especially in the hill regions, increasing the risk of further landslides and flash floods.

Tragedy has been hitting the state repeatedly this monsoon. Just a day earlier, one man was swept away near Haldwani. Over the weekend, two people drowned in a swollen stream near Bhujiyaghat. Landslides in Rudraprayag have buried shops and blocked roads.

CM Dhami has ordered district officials to stay alert and be present on the ground zero. He has also instructed quick action in case of roadblocks, electricity or water supply damage. As the rain continues and fear grips the hills, people in Dharali and nearby villages are hoping for a break in the weather and praying for those still missing.