Latest news with #cloudburst
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Houses buried under mudslide in India's flood-hit Uttarakhand
STORY: :: Rescue teams in Uttarakhand state search for missing people, including soldiers and laborers :: Dharali, India :: August 9, 2025 :: Harsil, India :: Flash floods, triggered by a cloudburst, hit Dharali and Harsil villages on Tuesday, killing at least four people Dharali, a hamlet of about 200 people that stands more than 1,150 m (3,775 ft) above sea level, is a pit-stop for Hindu pilgrims climbing to the temple town of Gangotri. Uttarakhand is prone to floods and landslides, which some experts blame on climate change.
France 24
6 days ago
- Climate
- France 24
Deadly Indian Himalayan flood likely caused by glacier collapse, experts say
Scores of people are missing after water and debris tore down a narrow mountain valley, smashing into the town of Dharali in Uttarakhand state on Tuesday. Several people could be seen in videos running before being engulfed as waves uprooted entire buildings, leaving others smothered in freezing sludge. At least four people have been confirmed killed, but at least 50 others are missing. Government officials said shortly after the disaster that the flood was caused by an intense "cloudburst" of rain. However, experts assessing the damage suggested that it was only the final trigger, adding to days of prolonged rains that had already soaked and loosened the ground. P.K. Joshi, of New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, an expert on Himalayan hazards, said it appeared the flood was caused by the collapse of debris -- known as moraine -- that had dammed a lake of meltwater from a retreating glacier. "Given the persistent rainfall over preceding days and the sudden discharge observed, a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) or collapse of a moraine-dammed lake is suspected as the primary trigger," Joshi told AFP. That would have contributed to a "sudden high energy flash flood", he said, noting that glacial terrain upstream of the town included "unstable sediment zones". Cloud cover has obstructed satellite imagery to check for the exact source of the debris, and Joshi cautioned that there was not enough satellite data for a "definitive confirmation". 'Disaster severity' Safi Ahsan Rizvi, an adviser to the National Disaster Management Authority, also said that it was "likely" that the cause was a "glacio-fluvial debris landslide". Sandip Tanu Mandal, a glaciologist at New Delhi's Mobius Foundation, also pointed to the "possibility of a GLOF", caused by "significant water accumulation in the lake due to increased melting and rainfall". Mandal noted that while heavy, the amount of rain immediately before the flood was "not very significant" in comparison to the vast volumes of water that poured down the valley. That would indicate the source was a potentially collapsing lake. Himalayan glaciers, which provide critical water to nearly two billion people, are melting faster than ever before due to climate change, exposing communities to unpredictable and costly disasters, scientists warn. The softening of permafrost increases the chances of landslides. Joshi said the latest disaster "highlights the complex and interconnected nature of Himalayan hazards". Rapid development and building downstream meant that the damage caused was multiplied.
Al Jazeera
06-08-2025
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Indian village swallowed by mudslide: What happened – and why?
More than 100 people are missing and at least four people have died after flash floods swept through the village of Dharali, in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. Teams from the army and disaster response forces are operating in the area to rescue people trapped under debris, local authorities have said. '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 Central Command of the Indian Army said in a post on X. Flash floods in Uttarkashi, where Dharali is situated, were triggered by intense rainfall known as a 'cloudburst', which caused the Kheerganga river to swell, at around 1:30pm local time (08:00 GMT) on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that heavy rainfall will continue for the next few days. What is a cloudburst? A cloudburst is an intense downpour that delivers a large volume of rain in a short time. It is often accompanied by thunder and hail and can cause flash floods. At any given time, clouds blanket about 70 percent of the Earth's surface. Cloudbursts are often associated with cumulonimbus clouds, which contain large amounts of water. The IMD said that over the past 24 hours, extreme rainfall of 21cm (8.3 inches) or more had been recorded in parts of northwest India, including Uttarakhand, where the flash floods happened – more than the 10cm (3.9 inches) of rain per hour required to be classed as a cloudburst, according to the IMD. Cloudbursts tend to occur over a small geographical region of 20 to 30 square kilometres (7.7 to 11.6 square miles) Is this caused by climate change? Uttarakhand, which has a large amount of mountainous and often unstable terrain, is prone to monsoon-related flooding. Dharali village is nestled in the Himalayas between the villages of Harsil and Gangotri. Uttarakhand is particularly vulnerable to climate change given the fragility of the Himalayan region. In particular, it is exposed to excessive precipitation, cloudbursts, flood events and periods of very cold weather (cold waves), according to a study published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. That study found that districts in higher regions are more exposed to these effects because of their inability to adjust to weather-related and climate changes and because the ecosystems in these areas are more sensitive to such changes. Experts say global warming will cause mountain temperatures to rise faster than the global average. Catastrophic flooding that has historically affected Uttarakhand will become more common as rising temperatures lead to hastening glacier melting, such as the Gangotri, the glacier that is closest to Dharali. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, rising temperatures in the Himalayas will ultimately reduce the size of glaciers, resulting in a reduction in the long-term availability of water for agriculture, people and power systems. It will also cause more solar energy absorption – accelerating the effects of global warming – because areas of glacial melting will be replaced by water or land, and the amount of light currently reflected by existing glaciers will decrease.
Russia Today
06-08-2025
- Climate
- Russia Today
Massive flash floods destroy a village in India (VIDEO)
Massive flash floods triggered by a cloudburst have destroyed a village and claimed at least four lives in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, the local authorities said on Tuesday. Flood water came gushing down the Himalayan slopes and washed away buildings in the village of Dharali, located 8,600 feet above sea level. Several people are still missing, according to the latest reports. The Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force, and National Disaster Response Force have deployed relief teams to the affected areas. To enhance relief efforts, additional army personnel have been dispatched, equipped with tracker dogs, drones, logistical support, and earthmoving equipment. Arrangements are also being made with the Indian Air Force to utilize helicopters for delivering essential supplies, medicine, and evacuating stranded residents who have been relocated to higher ground as water levels continue to rise due to persistent rainfall. During rescue operations, nine soldiers went missing, an army official told India Today. A cloudburst led to flash floods in the high altitude villages of Dharali in Uttarakhand's #Uttarkashi district on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) with several houses being damaged or swept away in the raging waters. 📹 Special arrangement Dharali is the main stopover on the way to the Hindu pilgrimage town of Gangotri, one of the sources of the Ganges. The region is considered sacred to Hindus, who visit four mountain shrines known as the Char Dham. In response to the crisis, the state authorities reported that 130 stranded individuals were relocated to safer areas and directed that food, shelter, and medical assistance be provided. VIDEO | Uttarakhand: Lucky escape for two youths on bike as landslide debris fall over them in Haridwar. (Full video available on PTI Videos - Uttarakhand continues to reel under intense rainfall, with several districts witnessing relentless downpours since late Tuesday night. According to the India Meteorological Department, a red alert has been issued for the state, effective until August 10, forecasting heavy rainfall, landslides, and flash floods. The Himalayan state has been hit by several disasters recently. In June, a helicopter crash resulted in the death of seven people, including a two-year-old – the fifth such accident in the state since April.
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
More than 100 missing after flash floods in India
Officials say more than 100 people are missing after a cloudburst triggered devastating flash floods in India's northern state of Uttarakhand. Rescue operations are under way in Uttarkashi district after a gigantic wave of water gushed down the mountains into Dharali village on Tuesday, submerging roads and buildings in its path. Some teams of the army have been at Dharali since Tuesday but other disaster response forces and district officials have been unable to reach the area due to damaged roads and heavy rains. Local media reports say that four people have died, but officials told the BBC they have not recovered any bodies so far. Heavy rains have been lashing the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand over the past weeks, and Uttarkashi, where Dharali village is located, has been particularly affected, with flooding reported in many places. Around 130 people have been rescued so far in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told reporters on Wednesday morning. 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 on Tuesday around 13:30 India time (08:00 GMT), causing the Kheerganga river to swell dramatically, sending tonnes of muddy water crashing down the hilly terrain. Dharali, a popular tourist destination in the summer, is located 2km (1.24 miles) from Harsil, which has a huge Indian army base. A camp of the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police is also located near the area. At least 10 soldiers stationed at the Harsil base are also missing, officials said. Rescue operations are progressing at a slow pace as there is a large amount of sludge and debris covering the area. On Wednesday, heavy and incessant rains continued to lash the region, further complicating rescue efforts. Many routes on the main highway have been closed after they were heavily damaged in the downpour. Journalist Nitin Ramola, who is based in Uttarkashi, said he had seen gaping, jagged cracks running down many roads in the district. He said he has been trying to reach Dharali since Tuesday afternoon but it was "absolutely impossible" right now because of the weather and damaged roads. A few teams of the national and state disaster response forces stationed in Gangotri - about 18km from Dharali - have been at the site since Tuesday afternoon, but officials have been unable to contact them because of poor network connectivity and prolonged power outages. The sludge has also blocked part of the Bhagirathi river - which becomes India's holiest river Ganges once it travels downstream - forming an artificial lake that has submerged large areas, including a government helipad. Officials worry that if this water is not drained out quickly, it can pose a serious threat to towns and villages downstream. Uttarakhand, located in the western Himalayas, is highly vulnerable to flash floods and landslides. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. Read more Dozens feared trapped as cloudburst triggers flash floods in India Rescue mission after glacier bursts India dam Monsoon rains kill 12 in Uttarakhand
