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Economic Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Economic Times
Uttarakhand flash floods: Up to 10 Indian army personnel missing in Harsil after cloudburst
Eight to ten Indian Army personnel are missing after a cloudburst struck Uttarkashi's lower Harsil area, officials said. Despite the loss, Army troops from the Ibex Brigade are actively assisting in relief operations alongside SDRF, NDRF, and local teams. Search efforts to locate the missing soldiers are underway. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Eight to ten Indian Army personnel are reported missing after a cloudburst hit the lower Harsil area in Uttarakhand 's Uttarkashi , officials said on Tuesday. Despite their own troops being unaccounted for, the Indian Army has continued relief and rescue operations in the affected from the Ibex Brigade have been mobilised and are working alongside SDRF, NDRF, and local authorities to assist civilians and assess the damage. Search efforts are ongoing to trace the missing same cloudburst caused flash floods in high-altitude villages of Dharali along the Gangotri route, sweeping away several houses and resulting in at least four deaths, according to officials. Dharali, a key stopover for pilgrims and tourists on the way to Gangotri, is home to several hotels, restaurants, and flash flood is believed to have originated from a cloudburst in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river, locals said. Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed that at least four people have died, and said an Army team from Harsil was rushed to the site to aid in response 10-12 people could be buried under the debris, Rajesh Panwar, a villager, told PTI. He said 20-25 hotels and homestays may have been washed Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to people affected by the flashfloods and assured that no stone is being left unturned in providing assistance."I express my condolences to the people affected by this tragedy in Dharali, Uttarkashi. Along with this, I pray for the well-being of all the victims. I have spoken to Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami ji and obtained information about the situation. Under the supervision of the state government, relief and rescue teams are engaged in every possible effort. No stone is being left unturned in providing assistance to the people," he wrote on X in Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and ordered the dispatch of seven rescue teams to assist the affected Minister Rajnath Singh said the Centre and the state government are working in tandem, taking all possible measures to save precious lives."Have been seeing disturbing visuals from Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) on the devastation caused by flash floods. Praying for the well-being of the people affected by the tragedy...," he wrote on X.A 16-member Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team has reached Dharali from its 12th battalion stationed at Matli in Uttarakhand while another unit of the same strength has also been asked to rush to the cloudburst site, officials Minister Dhami said he is constantly in touch with senior officials and the situation is being closely monitored."The news of heavy losses due to cloudburst in Dharali (Uttarkashi) area is extremely sad and painful. SDRF, NDRF, district administration and other related teams are engaged on war footing in relief and rescue operations," he said in a post on was widespread panic in the neighbouring villages following the from the area showed a torrent of muddy water and silt rushing down the slopes towards settlements along the banks of the river. People could be heard screaming in one video, people can be heard in the video gasping for breath and trying to call their relatives in affected areas to find out if they were alright.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Uttarakhand floods: At least 10 Army jawans missing; helicopters on standby for rescue operations
NEW DELHI: At least ten Army personnel have been reported missing after devastating cloudbursts triggered flash floods in the Harsil area of Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The missing soldiers were stationed at a camp in the lower Harsil region when the incident occurred, reported news agency ANI. Despite the tragedy hitting their own ranks, Troops joined relief operations on the ground, officials added. The Air Force also swung into action, with Mi-17 V5, Chinook, Cheetah, and ALH helicopters on active standby at the Chandigarh air base. IAF officials say the choppers were equipped with the necessary material and are prepared to take off as soon as weather conditions improve in the affected region. A cloudburst in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river led to violent flash floods in the high-altitude village of Dharali, which lies en route to Gangotri. The disaster has claimed the lives of at least four people, while 10 to 12 others may be trapped under debris, local sources said. Dharali, a key halt for travellers heading to the sacred Gangotri shrine, is home to several hotels, homestays and eateries. The floodwaters are believed to have swept away between 20 to 25 such establishments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Uttarkashi district magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed the fatalities and added that an Army unit from Harsil has already been rushed to the site to support rescue efforts. Resident Rajesh Panwar told PTI that the scale of destruction is unprecedented. "About 10-12 people could be buried under the debris. 20-25 hotels and homestays may have been washed away," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to those affected by the tragedy and assured that relief efforts are under way with full force. 'I express my condolences to the people affected by this tragedy in Dharali, Uttarkashi. Along with this, I pray for the well-being of all the victims. I have spoken to Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami ji and obtained information about the situation. Under the supervision of the state government, relief and rescue teams are engaged in every possible effort. No stone is being left unturned in providing assistance to the people,' the Prime Minister wrote on X.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
At least 20 hotels washed away, fear locals, as flash floods consume Uttarakhand village near Gangotri
Locals fear more than 20 hotels and homestays have been washed away in the flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Dharali village near Gangotri on Tuesday. Scary visuals of the cloudburst-triggered flash floods emerged on social media, showing several buildings being swept away. (Live Hindustan) The tragedy in the Himalayan valley near Harsil in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district was caught on videos, which showed the sheer scale of the devastation. The cloudburst took place in the catchment of a local stream that joins the Bhagirathi river. At least 10 people were buried under the debris, Rajesh Panwar, a local resident, told PTI, adding that 20-25 hotels and homestays may have been swept away.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Uttarakhand Cloudburst Update: Dharali Faces Heavy Loss —When and How Do Cloudbursts Happen
In a recent update, there has been a sudden cloudburst in the Dharali region of Uttarkashi district on Tuesday. It has triggered massive destruction as the entire village has been swept away. The sudden water flow has left several people (feared) trapped under debris. As per reports, the search and rescue operations are on. Eyewitness accounts and videos that are being shared on social media platforms show a grim picture. One clip shared online shows a sudden surge of water gushing down the hillside with mud, rocks, trees, and debris. In the background, we can hear people screaming. The confirmation of the sad incident was done by District Magistrate Prashant Arya who called it a "major cloudburst". Dharali is a village close to Harsil, which is a prime tourist destination. Rajesh Panwar, a local resident who spoke to PTI, said around 10 to 12 people might be buried beneath the debris. He also estimated that as many as 20 to 25 hotels and homestays may have been swept away in the deluge. "It all happened so fast. The water just came roaring down," he said. The incident has triggered a wave of panic among people and travellers across surrounding villages. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like M3M Great Freedom Sale – Mega Sales for Luxury Homes M3M India Book Now Undo As per ANI, home minister Amit Shah has spoken to Uttarakhand's chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami about the cloudburst condition in the Dharali. Disaster response teams, including personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have been deployed. Uttarakhand Police has made a public advisory, 'Due to the rising water levels in Kheer Gadh in Dharali, Uttarkashi, reports of damage have been received in the Dharali market area. Police, Fire department, SDRF and Army, along with other disaster relief and rescue teams, are engaged in relief and rescue operations at the scene'. As of now, the local authorities have asked locals to maintain a safe distance from the banks of the rivers. The CM too expressed deep concern. He took to x and stated, '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.' Understanding Cloudburst A cloudburst is a natural calamity which is unpredictable. It happens when there's a sudden and heavy rainfall which normally occurs over a small region in a very small time—often less than an hour, especially in the mountainous regions. Reason behind a cloudburst Cloudbursts happens when: Warm air rapidly rises but cools down. It then causes intense condensation and rainfall. Clouds full of moisture get trapped by mountain ranges and next thing you know is heavy rainfall over a small region. Atmospheric instability leads to the sudden release of massive amounts of precipitation. Cloudbursts in India are common in mountainous regions including the Himalayas and the Western Ghats. Cloudburst can have extreme damaging effects, including: Flash floods : Rivers and streams can overflow in the matter of seconds. Landslides : Saturated slopes may collapse and can wash away homes and roads or anything that comes in its way. Unpredictability: The worst thing about cloudburst is that these are unpredictable and hence leaves little time for evacuation which causes loss of life. How to stay safe Keep checking weather updates : Use official apps or websites from IMD (India Meteorological Department). Avoid : Do not plan a trip to flood-prone or landslide-prone regions during monsoons. Carry emergency kit : Include essentials like drinking water, non-perishable food, torch, batteries, a first-aid kit, and important documents. But understand one thing that cloudbursts are unpredictable and can be unimaginably deadly! Awareness, early warnings, and quick action are your only defenses. As of now, it is difficult to assess the complete damage. However, early reports suggest major loss of infrastructure, especially in the tourism-dependent hospitality sector. The Uttarakhand government has appealed to stay calm. Travellers are advised to keep checking weather forecasts and current status.
Mint
4 days ago
- Climate
- Mint
Uttarakhand: Major cloud burst floods Uttarkashi's Dharali village; chilling visuals of Kheer Ganga goes viral
Uttarakhand News: A powerful cloudburst struck Dharali near Harsil in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, 5 August, causing widespread devastation. District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed the incident, as dramatic visuals showed raging floodwaters tearing through the village — sweeping away homes, shops, and roads, and leaving behind a trail of debris and sludge. At least four people are feared dead in the the flash floods. This sudden and intense rainfall led to a flash flood in the Kheer Ganga River. The cloudburst took place in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river, leading to the devastating floods, locals said. About 10-12 people could be buried under the debris, Rajesh Panwar, a villager, told PTI. He said 20-25 hotels and homestays may have been washed away. In addition, in Banala Patti area of Barkot tehsil, nearly 18 goats were swept away in the overflowing Kud Gadhera stream. According to PTI information, 20-25 people are feared buried in the cloud burst-induced flashfloods in the Dharali village. On the Uttarkashi cloudburst incident, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami who is an Andhra Pradesh, said, "I have been informed about a cloudburst incident in Dharali of Uttarkashi... We are working to rescue the people. Officials from the District administration, the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF are trying to rescue people and save them..." The forces of the Indian Army, the State Disaster Response Force, and the National Disaster Response Force, along with other rescue teams, are on their way to the spot. The region is situated 10 kilometres away from the popular tourist site, Harshil. How Dharali village looks after a could burst flooded the village, killing at least 4 people. The Meteorological Department has issued a warning for continued heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand until 10 August, with particularly intense downpours expected in the hilly regions. Visuals showed a massive debris slide, encroaching into the town, taking with it structures. More than 20 hotels and homestays run out of the area. Uttarkashi Police informed, 'In Uttarkashi, due to the rising water level of Kheer Gadh in the Harsil area, reports of damage in Dharali have prompted police, SDRF, army, and other disaster response teams to engage in relief and rescue operations at the site.' Rescue teams from the State and National Disaster Response Forces were quickly deployed but faced challenges due to blocked roads and disrupted connectivity to nearby pilgrimage sites, including Gangotri Dham. A cloud burst, defined as an extremely heavy localised rainstorm dropping more than 10cm of rain within a very short time over a small area, is particularly common in mountainous regions like Uttarakhand. This phenomenon occurs when warm air currents cause raindrops to remain suspended in clouds until they suddenly fall in a torrent, often accompanied by hail and thunder. The Himalayan terrain exacerbates the effects due to steep slopes and fragile soil conditions, leading to flash floods and landslides. In Dharali, the cloud burst triggered such landslides, with the heavy water flow washing away large amounts of soil and debris into the village and causing significant flooding. Cloudbursts occur because the warm air current from the ground or below the clouds rushes up and carries the falling raindrops up with it. The rain fails to fall down in a steady shower. This results in excessive condensation in the clouds as new drops form and old drops are pushed back into it by the updraft. Then one of them gives in. The air current slows down or the clouds can't hold. The resulting violent downpour can dump as much as 70,000 tonnes of water over an acre of land. In India, a cloudburst mostly occurs in the mountains of India where the low monsoon clouds are stopped by the high mountains. But it may happen elsewhere.
