4 days ago
At least four dead from flash flood in north-eastern India
dpa
New Delhi
A flash flood and subsequent landslides have killed at least four people and left a trail of destruction in a high-altitude village in north-eastern India, media reports said on Tuesday.
Numerous people are missing, the local broadcaster NDTV and the newspaper India Today reported.
The flash flood was triggered by a cloudburst. Rescue teams are searching for people who may have been buried under mud and debris.
The district administration has so far only confirmed the number of recovered bodies.
The village of Dharali in the state of Uttarakhand, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, was particularly affected. A massive mudslide swept through the village, the Central Command of the Indian Army, which is assisting in the rescue efforts, posted on X.
Several houses in the village were damaged or completely washed away by the rushing water, mud and debris from the mountains, according to reports. Images showed rooftops protruding from the mud and rubble.
In India, floods and mudslides are not uncommon during the monsoon season, which lasts from June to September. While the rain is vital for vegetation and agriculture, it can also pose life-threatening risks to people.
Rescuers are looking for dozens of people who are feared to be trapped.
Teams, including army and paramilitaries, have reached Dharali village.
Dramatic videos of the disaster show a giant wave of water gushing through the area, crumpling buildings in its path. A tourist spot, Dharali is populated with hotels, resorts and restaurants.
A cloudburst is an extreme, sudden downpour of rain over a small area in a short period of time, often leading to flash floods.
It took place at around 13:30 India time (08:00 GMT) when a large amount of water came down, swelling the Kheerganga river and sending tonnes of muddy waters gushing downwards on the hilly terrain, covering roads, buildings and shops in Dharali.
Eyewitnesses from a nearby village who shot the dramatic footage of the muddy water coursing through the streets could be heard shrieking, blowing whistles and shouting 'run, run', but said the sudden surge did not give people the chance to get away.
They said they believed many people could be trapped under the debris.
The ancient Kalpkedar temple is also under the slush and is believed to have been damaged, they added.
