Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district was battered by two back-to-back cloudburst-like incidents on Tuesday (August 5, 2025), triggering flash floods, sweeping away houses, and leaving more than 50 people missing. The first cloudburst occurred around 2 p.m. in Harsil town, while another was reported hours later at Sukhi Top, a popular tourist destination in the region.
Videos shared on social media showed raging waters destroying homes and infrastructure in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river. According to initial reports, around 40-50 houses have been washed away in the Harsil cloudburst alone, said Mohsen Shahedi, DIG of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). “A large-scale rescue operation will have to be carried out. Three teams of NDRF, each comprising 35 well-equipped members, have been sent to the spot,” he said.
Rescue Operations Intensify
Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Indian Army’s Rajput Rifles have been deployed. “People have been taken out of their houses and moved to safe places. However, due to another landslide on the way, some of our teams are stuck,” said Uttarkashi SP Sarita Doval.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have spoken to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, assuring full assistance from the Centre. “Our top priority is to ensure immediate relief. The government is committed to ensuring that no one faces any shortage of assistance,” said Trivendra Singh Rawat, BJP MP from Haridwar and former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.
Sukhi Top Cloudburst Raises Water Levels
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed that no loss of life was reported in Sukhi Top, but the cloudburst caused a sharp rise in river water levels.
Expert Opinions and Warnings
While the incidents are being termed as cloudbursts, meteorologist Gufran-Ullah Beig noted, “Although in general terminology we are calling it a cloudburst, it is probably not that. Continuous rainfall in surrounding areas and blocked natural drainage systems caused the streams to overflow.”
Geographical disaster expert D.N. Joshi stressed the need for preparedness: “Cloudbursts occur when heavy rainfall happens in a short span of time, mostly in hilly areas. Uttarkashi and Kedarnath Ghati are high-risk zones. We must work in accordance with nature and move to higher places when such situations erupt.”
Medical and Administrative Measures
The Trauma Centre at AIIMS Rishikesh has been put on alert to receive injured victims. Schools and colleges in the region will remain shut on Wednesday as a precautionary measure.
Helpline Numbers:
- District Emergency Operation Centre (Uttarkashi/Haridwar): 01374-222126, 01374-222722, 7310913129, 7500737269, 9456556431
- State Emergency Operation Centre (Dehradun): 0135-2710334, 0135-2710335, 8218867005, 9058441404
- Toll-Free: 1070, 1077
