Flash Floods Wreak Havoc in India's Uttarkashi, 4 dead, 100 Missing, Many Houses Demolished

06-Aug-2025

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A flash flood driving a torrent of mud smashed into a town in India's Himalayan region on August 5, killing at least four people with around 100 others missing, including 11 soldiers.

The roaring waters tore down a narrow mountain valley, demolishing buildings as the flood barrelled into the town of Dharali in Uttarakhand state.

Rescue operations are under way in Uttarkashi district after a massive wave of water surged down the mountains into Dharali village on Tuesday, submerging roads and buildings in its path.

Some army teams have been stationed in Dharali since August 5, but other disaster response forces and district officials have been unable to reach the area due to damaged roads and heavy rainfall.

Heavy rains have been lashing the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand over the past few weeks.

Videos broadcast on Indian media showed a terrifying surge of muddy water sweeping away multi-storey apartment blocks in the tourist region.

Several people could be seen running before being engulfed by the dark waves of debris that uprooted entire buildings.

Uttarakhand State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said rescue teams had been deployed "on a war footing".

State Disaster Response Force commander Arpan Yaduvanshi said the mud was 15m deep in places, swamping some buildings entirely.