One dead after flash flood sweeps Indian village, over 100 missing
The flooding occurred in Dharali village, located in Uttarkashi district, after a sudden, intense downpour around 1:30 pm local time (08:00 GMT) caused the Kheerganga river to overflow.
At least one person has died and more than 100 others are missing after heavy rainfall led to flash floods in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand on Tuesday.
The flooding occurred in Dharali village, located in Uttarkashi district, after a sudden, intense downpour around 1:30 pm local time (08:00 GMT) caused the Kheerganga river to overflow.
The fast-moving water surged down the mountain slopes, washing away roads, submerging buildings and leaving widespread destruction in its path.
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Multiple reports indicate that rescue teams are working to locate the missing, but damaged infrastructure and ongoing heavy rains have made access to the area difficult.
According to the BBC, while army personnel have been on the ground since Tuesday, other emergency crews and local officials are still struggling to reach the village.
Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state, has been experiencing relentless rainfall in recent weeks, with Uttarkashi among the hardest-hit areas. Several locations across the district have likewise reported severe flooding.
According to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, around 130 people have been rescued so far in Uttarkashi following the flash floods.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning, he explained that rescue operations have been moving slowly due to the thick layers of mud and debris covering large parts of the affected area.
The Indian weather department has warned that more rainfall is expected in the coming days and has urged people to avoid travelling to landslide-prone areas. As a precaution, schools have been closed in some parts of the state to keep students safe.
Uttarakhand, located in the western Himalayas, is especially vulnerable to flash floods and landslides. In 2021, more than 200 people lost their lives in a similar disaster triggered by sudden heavy rain.
One of the deadliest such incidents occurred in 2013, when a cloudburst caused devastating floods and landslides, wiping out large parts of the pilgrimage town of Kedarnath.
Thousands were killed or went missing, and many bodies were never recovered.
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