Rescue operations of flood-hit areas affected after a portion of a road collapsed near Bhatwari, in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, Wednesday, August 6. PTI
Uttarkashi floods: 190 people rescued; 200-member Army team leads massive mission
Indo-Tibetan Border Police says they have rescued 413 pilgrims who were stranded on the Kinner Kailash Yatra route in the state
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday (August ) said 190 people have been rescued from Uttarkashi's Dharali village, which was hit by a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst that struck the upper catchment of the Kheer Ganga river.
Speaking to PTI, the chief minister said plans are being prepared to evacuate the pilgrims stuck in Gangotri Dham through Nelong Valley. "All arrangements have been made and they will be evacuated very soon," he added.
"After the incident which took place yesterday, 190 people have been rescued from there. All of them are safe and are at secure places," he said, adding, "The injured have been admitted to hospitals while some have been sent to the military camps and higher centres." Five people have been killed and several have been injured in the flash flood that hit Dharali on Tuesday.
Dhami said the state government employees are doing their work. "I am also camping here. Till all rescue work is streamlined and they catch speed, I will stay put here and monitor everything," he said.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) said they have rescued 413 pilgrims who were stranded on the Kinner Kailash Yatra route in the state.
One body was recovered on Wednesday, while bad weather was hampering rescue operations even as an NDRF team reached the site in the evening.
Tonnes of rubble lay on the site with the ITBP, Army and SDRF personnel rummaging through it for those trapped underneath amid continuing rain and road collapses.
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- 6 Aug 2025 3:30 PM IST
Land features enable flash floods in Himalayas: IIT Gandhinagar study
Flash floods in the Himalayas are primarily influenced by the region's land features, while those occurring along the west coast and in central India are driven by factors that affect water flow, a map of hotspots across the country developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar shows.
Three-fourths of flash floods occurring across the country are triggered due to extreme rainfall and moist conditions of the ground caused by recent, prolonged rains, the study published in the journal 'npj Natural Hazards' found. The remaining one-fourth is solely driven by extreme rainfall, it said.
The extreme weather event is highly local, in terms of area impacted, and spans a short duration between when rainfall starts and when flooding peaks, which is usually under six hours, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
A key finding of the hotspot analysis, the team said, was that extreme rainfall is becoming more common and intense in several basins not prone to flash floods, "highlighting that the warming climate can lead to newer flash flood hotspots in the future".
The map, described in the study, also identifies the risk emerging in sub-basins that are currently less vulnerable to flash floods.
"Flash flood hotspots are mainly centred in the Himalayas, West Coast, and Central India, with geomorphological factors driving flash floods in the Himalayas and hydrological factors (flashiness) in the West Coast and Central India," the authors wrote.
They added, "The combination of extreme precipitation and wet antecedent conditions triggers most (nearly 3/4th) flash floods while the remaining (nearly 1/4th) are solely driven by extreme precipitation." The study analysed data of temperatures recorded by the IMD during 1981-2020, and that of flash floods from datasets, including the 'Emergency Events Database' (EM-DAT).
- 6 Aug 2025 12:57 PM IST
Uttarkashi cloudburst being closely monitored: Uttarakhand BJP President
Uttarakhand BJP President Mahendra Bhatt stated that the situation following the Uttarkashi cloudburst is being continuously monitored.
He stated that the Prime Minister and Home Minister have taken note of the situation and said that NDRF, SDRF, and the health department teams are present at the site to facilitate rescue operations.
- 6 Aug 2025 12:51 PM IST
Uttarakhand CM meets victims of Dharali cloudburst
After the Uttarkashi cloudburst incident, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami meets the disaster victims of Dharali at the town's PWD guest house.
- 6 Aug 2025 12:48 PM IST
Uttarkashi-Harsil road washed out in landslides; clearance work underway
Due to the cloudburst and landslides at various places, the Uttarkashi-Harsil road in Bhatwadi has been completely washed out.
Road clearing work is currently underway on the Uttarkashi-Harsil road.
- 6 Aug 2025 12:45 PM IST
CM Dhami inspects Uttarkashi flood-hit areas, orders officials to remain alert
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted a field inspection of the rising river water levels and surrounding flood-affected areas in Uttarkashi.
He instructed officials to remain on high alert round the clock to ensure timely response and safety measures.
- 6 Aug 2025 12:43 PM IST
People in fear, says BJP MP Kangana Ranaut after Uttarkashi cloudburst
Reacting to the Uttarakhand cloudburst and mudslide, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut expressed concern over the situation, saying people living in the hills are gripped by fear amid recurring natural disasters.
She added that everyone is pained by the incident and hoped for an early improvement in conditions.
- 6 Aug 2025 12:41 PM IST
Around 11 Army jawans are reported missing in Harsil: NDRF DIG
NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi confirmed that four people have died and over 50 are missing following a cloudburst in Uttarkashi.
He said flash floods were also reported in Harsil and Sukhi Top, with 11 Army jawans missing in Harsil.
No casualties were reported in Sukhi Top. Rescue efforts are hampered by road blockages on the Rishikesh–Uttarkashi highway. NDRF teams are on standby in Dehradun for airlifting affected people.
- 6 Aug 2025 12:38 PM IST
ITBP, SDRF, NDRF, BRO teams carry out rescue operations after Uttarkashi cloudburst
Following a devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi, NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi confirmed that ITBP, SDRF, NDRF, and BRO teams are conducting rescue operations.
Around 150 people have been evacuated to safe locations.
Three NDRF teams are en route but await road clearance. Additional teams in Pant Nagar, Gauchar, and Joshimath are on standby and will be deployed once weather conditions improve.
- 6 Aug 2025 12:34 PM IST
Four dead, over 100 missing in Uttarkashi cloudburst: NDRF DIG
Mohsen Shahedi, DIG, NDRF says, "Around 150 people have been taken to safe spots. As far as the information, four people have been found dead, and over 100 people are missing due Uttarkashi cloudburst. We are still waiting for the confirmation from the local administration. Three teams of NDRF are on the way to the spot..."
- 6 Aug 2025 12:31 PM IST
River Ganga level rises in Uttarakhand, touches Lord Shiva idol at Parmarth Niketan
At the Aarti Sthal of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, River Ganga touches the idol of Lord Shiva, amid incessant and heavy rainfall.
