India deploys rescue teams as flood swamps Himalayan town
Rescue teams deployed Tuesday to India's Himalayan region after flash floods tore down a mountain valley, appearing to wipe away much of a town, where at least four people were missing.
Videos broadcast on Indian media showed a surge of muddy water sweeping away multi-storey apartment blocks in the tourist region of Dharali in Uttarakhand state.
Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand state chief minister, said rescue teams had been deployed "on a war footing".
A local disaster official said at least four people were missing, while others warned the number was likely to rise.
"Luckily, most of the people were at a fair in a safe location," said an official, who asked not to be named since he was not authorised to speak to the media.
India's army said its first teams had reached the town.
"A massive mudslide struck Dharali... triggering a sudden flow of debris and water through the settlement," it said.
Dhami said the flood was caused by a sudden and intense downpour. "News of heavy damage caused by a cloudburst... is extremely sad and distressing," he said.
There were no immediate reports of confirmed casualties.
"I am in constant contact with senior officials, and the situation is being closely monitored," Dhami added in a statement. "I pray to God for everyone's safety."
The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert warning for the area, and recorded "extremely heavy" rainfall of around 21 centimetres (eight inches) in isolated parts of Uttarakhand.
Deadly floods and landslides are common during the monsoon season from June to September but experts say climate change, coupled with urbanisation, is increasing their frequency and severity.
The UN's World Meteorological Organization said last year that increasingly intense floods and droughts are a "distress signal" of what is to come as climate change makes the planet's water cycle ever more unpredictable.
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Observer
7 days ago
- Observer
Indian army searches for scores missing after deadly flood
New Delhi: The Indian army brought in sniffer dogs, drones and heavy earth-moving equipment Wednesday to search for scores of people missing a day after deadly Himalayan flash floods. At least four people were killed and more than 50 are unaccounted for after a wall of muddy water and debris tore down a narrow mountain valley, smashing into the town of Dharali in Uttarakhand state, rescue officials said on Wednesday. Torrential monsoon rains continue to pour down hampering rescue efforts, with communication limited and phone lines damaged. But as soldiers and rescue teams reached marooned individuals, assessment of the number missing has been reduced, down from around 100 who were reported to be unaccounted late on Tuesday. "The search for the missing is ongoing", said Mohsen Shahedi, from the National Disaster Response Force. Videos broadcast on Indian media showed a terrifying surge of muddy water sweeping away multi-storey apartment blocks in the tourist region on Tuesday afternoon. Shahedi said more than 50 people were missing from Dharali, the town hit by the floods, while 11 soldiers were unaccounted for from the nearby downstream village of Harsil. "Additional army columns, along with army tracker dogs, drones, logistic drones, earthmoving equipment etc., have been moved... to hasten the efforts", the army said Wednesday. Military helicopters were flying in "essential supplies", it added, as well as collecting those stranded after roads were swept away, although rain and fog made flights difficult. - 'Unimaginable scale' - Uttarakhand state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the flood was caused by an intense "cloudburst" of rain, and that rescue teams had been deployed "on a war footing". Several people could be seen running before being engulfed by the dark waves of debris that uprooted entire buildings. Suman Semwal told Indian Express newspaper that his father saw the flood hitting Dharali with a "rumbling noise" from a village uphill. What he saw was on an "unimaginable scale", he said. "They tried to scream, but could not make themselves heard," Semwal told the newspaper. "The people couldn't comprehend what was happening. The flood waters struck them in 15 seconds," he said. A large part of the town was swamped by mud, with rescue officials estimating it was 50 feet (15 metres) deep in places, swallowing some buildings entirely. Images released by the army and government rescue teams showed men heaving rocks by hand and earth movers removing debris to clear roads. Government weather forecasters said Wednesday that all major rivers in Uttarakhand were flowing above the danger mark. "Residents have been moved to higher reaches in view of rising water levels due to incessant rains," the army added. Deadly floods and landslides are common during the monsoon season from June to September, but experts say climate change, coupled with urbanisation, is increasing their frequency and severity. The UN's World Meteorological Organization said last year that increasingly intense floods and droughts are a "distress signal" of what is to come as climate change makes the planet's water cycle ever more unpredictable. Hydrologist Manish Shrestha said the 270 millimetres (10 inches) of rain within 24 hours counted as "an extreme event". Shrestha, from the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, said such rain in mountains had a "more concentrated" impact than on flatter lowlands. "Such intense rainfall events are becoming increasingly common, and could be linked to climate change," he said.
Observer
05-08-2025
- Observer
India deploys rescue teams as flood swamps Himalayan town
Dehradun, India: Rescue teams deployed Tuesday to India's Himalayan region after flash floods tore down a mountain valley, appearing to wipe away much of a town, where at least four people were missing. Videos broadcast on Indian media showed a surge of muddy water sweeping away multi-storey apartment blocks in the tourist region of Dharali in Uttarakhand state. Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand state chief minister, said rescue teams had been deployed "on a war footing". A local disaster official said at least four people were missing, while others warned the number was likely to rise. "Luckily, most of the people were at a fair in a safe location," said an official, who asked not to be named since he was not authorised to speak to the media. India's army said its first teams had reached the town. "A massive mudslide struck Dharali... triggering a sudden flow of debris and water through the settlement," it said. Dhami said the flood was caused by a sudden and intense downpour. "News of heavy damage caused by a cloudburst... is extremely sad and distressing," he said. There were no immediate reports of confirmed casualties. "I am in constant contact with senior officials, and the situation is being closely monitored," Dhami added in a statement. "I pray to God for everyone's safety." The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert warning for the area, and recorded "extremely heavy" rainfall of around 21 centimetres (eight inches) in isolated parts of Uttarakhand. Deadly floods and landslides are common during the monsoon season from June to September but experts say climate change, coupled with urbanisation, is increasing their frequency and severity. The UN's World Meteorological Organization said last year that increasingly intense floods and droughts are a "distress signal" of what is to come as climate change makes the planet's water cycle ever more unpredictable.
Times of Oman
05-08-2025
- Times of Oman
India: Massive cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Dharali; CM Dhami takes stock of rescue ops
Dehradun: A massive mudslide struck Dharali village in the Kheer Gad area near Harsil, triggering a sudden flow of debris and water through the settlement, the Indian Army said on Tuesday. Army's Central Command stated that Troops of the Ibex Brigade were immediately mobilised and have reached the affected site to assess the situation and undertake rescue operations. "Extent of damage is being ascertained and updates will follow as relief operations unfold", the Army's Central Command said in a statement. Taking stock of the situation, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sadness over the damage that was the result of the cloudburst. CM Dhami further informed that the administration, including SDRF and NDRF, are engaged in the rescue operation, and the situation is being closely monitored. In a post on X, CM Dhami said, "The news of heavy damage caused by a cloudburst in the Dharali (Uttarkashi) region is extremely sad and distressing. SDRF, NDRF, district administration, and other related teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations on a war footing. In this regard, I am in constant contact with senior officials, and the situation is being closely monitored. I pray to God for everyone's safety." The cloudburst has led to flash floods in the high-altitude villages of Dharali. Several houses were reported to have been swept away. Additionally, Uttarkashi Police said, "In Uttarkashi, due to the rising water level of Kheer Gadh in the Harsil area, reports of damage in Dharali have prompted police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), army, and other disaster response teams to engage in relief and rescue operations at the site." Responding to the incident, SDRF IG informed that battalions with specialised equipment have been dispatched to the spot and are on rescue operation is being done in a coordinated manner. While speaking to ANI, SDRF IG, Arun Mohan Joshi said, "As soon as we got the information, our nearest SDRF team has reached the spot. Two other units are about to reach. Rescue work is being done in a coordinated manner. The nearby NDRF, Army teams are also reaching the spot. Specialised equipment in our SDRF battalion headquarters, which can be used in this disaster, is also being sent... Whether it is the Army, ITBP, or NDRF, all the teams are reaching the spot, and rescue is being done in a coordinated manner."
