Uttarkashi: Uttarakhand’s monsoon fury has once again exposed the fragile underbelly of Himalayan living, as torrential rains and a series of landslides wreaked havoc across the state. In the worst-hit region of Dharali village in Uttarkashi district located en route to the revered Gangotri shrine at least four people have lost their lives, and dozens more are feared missing following a series of flash floods and earth slips triggered by incessant rainfall.
The heavy rains began early Monday and intensified overnight, collapsing roads, breaching riverbanks, and sweeping away homes. Rescue efforts led by the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been severely obstructed by continuing downpours and landslide-blocked routes. Communication lines have been snapped, and most operations are now being coordinated via satellite phones and walkie-talkies.
One of the more alarming developments was the flooding of an army camp near Harsil, from where 11 soldiers were reported missing. Efforts are underway to trace their whereabouts, though the mountainous terrain, slippery slopes, and muddy rubble continue to pose dangerous obstacles. Despite difficult conditions, approximately 130 people have been rescued so far, many of them pilgrims and locals who were stranded in remote locations.
The devastation in Dharali village paints a grim picture. Eyewitnesses describe a sudden wall of mud, rocks, and water that engulfed homes, shops, and farms. Footage captured from helicopters and rescue drones shows entire sections of the village flattened. Many people remain unaccounted for, believed to be trapped under collapsed structures or swept away by the gushing waters.
The disaster has reignited debates over unregulated construction, deforestation, and climate change’s growing impact on the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Experts have long warned that Uttarakhand is particularly vulnerable to cloudbursts intense, short-duration rainfall events that can trigger deadly flash floods and landslides within minutes.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami have issued statements expressing solidarity with the affected people and promised all possible assistance. The Centre has deployed additional army units, helicopters, medical teams, and disaster relief equipment. Yet with the Indian Meteorological Department predicting more rainfall over the next 48 hours, the situation remains critical.
As hope fades for those still missing, rescuers brace for more challenges ahead. The focus now shifts not only to saving lives but also to ensuring that remote villages many of which are completely cut off receive basic relief and medical support. The tragedy once again underlines the urgent need for sustainable development policies in ecologically sensitive zones like Uttarakhand.