ALBAWABA- A devastating cloudburst struck the Dharali area near Harsil in Uttarkashi district, northern India, on Tuesday, unleashing flash floods that washed away entire villages and left dozens missing.
Authorities fear several fatalities, as the region reels from the aftermath of the sudden deluge.
Video footage circulating on social media shows the full force of the disaster, with a violent torrent of water ripping through the village in seconds.
Entire homes were swept away, as desperate screams of residents echoed in the background. The terrifying scenes captured the raw power of the flash flood, leaving behind a trail of destruction and chaos.
The cloudburst, a rare and violent weather event caused by a rain-filled cloud releasing massive volumes of water in a short span of time, triggered a surge in the Kheer Ganga river, submerging parts of the Dharali village and nearby areas.
Local police confirmed that at least 50 people are currently unaccounted for. Rescue and relief operations are underway, with teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, army, and other emergency services deployed to the scene.
"The water level of Kheer Gadh rose rapidly, causing severe damage in Dharali. Rescue efforts are in full swing," Uttarkashi Police said in a statement.
The sudden cloudburst and resulting flash floods have highlighted the vulnerability of high-altitude Himalayan regions to extreme weather events, raising concerns about preparedness and climate resilience in disaster-prone areas.
