U'khand sees 30% surge in disaster toll, deadliest in recent yrs
So far, 239 people have been affected—61 confirmed dead, 84 missing, and 94 injured. The toll has already surpassed last year's 110 casualties (82 dead and 28 missing) and exceeded the figures from 2023, when nearly 100 lives were lost in weather-related incidents.
The figures are now approaching those of 2021, when 298 people died and over 50 went missing in natural calamities. That year, a flash flood in Chamoli, triggered by a rock-ice avalanche, killed 204, making it the second-worst disaster after the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy, when thousands perished.
Experts warn that while the Himalayan terrain makes the state inherently disaster-prone, the rising scale of loss underscores shortcomings in planning and preparedness. "Landslides, cloudbursts and other heavy rain-linked disasters will continue in the hills due to the topography. What is important is whether we are learning from these incidents and adopting mitigation measures to minimise human loss," said disaster adaptation expert and former Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) executive director Piyoosh Rautela.
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One of this year's worst calamities was the Aug 5 flash flood in Dharali, a village near the Gangotri highway in Uttarkashi. Triggered by an extreme weather event in the upper catchment, it destroyed homes, fields and infrastructure. Official records confirm one death, but around 68 remain missing, including 25 Nepali workers who were engaged in local projects. Rescue efforts have been hampered by huge boulders, unstable slopes and a temporary lake in Harsil that continues to pose risks of breaching.
Calling Dharali a "classic example" of misplaced habitation, Rautela stressed the need to enforce a flood zonation plan in "true letter and spirit" to prevent such tragedies. With the monsoon still underway, officials fear the toll could climb further, accentuating the urgency for stronger disaster management in the Himalayan state.
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