US EditionRain Data Doesn't Support Claim Cloudburst Caused Uttarkashi Disaster: Experts
DHARALI VILLAGE, UTTARKASHI DISTRICT, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA, AUG 6 – Experts say accelerated glacier melting caused a glacial lake outburst flood in Dharali, with four dead and about 100 missing, highlighting rising Himalayan disaster risks linked to climate
- On August 5, 2025, a flash flood struck Dharali village in Uttarkashi district after heavy rainfall caused the Khirganga river to surge, killing at least four people and leaving over 50 missing.
- This disaster followed a period when Uttarkashi recorded 6-7 percent less rainfall than average during the monsoon, and experts doubt a cloudburst caused the flash flood given the measured rainfall of only 27 mm that day.
- Rescue teams including SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, and the Army evacuated more than 140 people while key sites like the Kalp Kedar Mahadev Temple were buried under debris amid ongoing relief efforts.
- Former Wadia scientist DP Dobhal suggested the flood likely resulted from a landslide or ice chunk dislodging moraine deposits, and IMD scientist Rohit Thapliyal confirmed the rainfall data does not support a cloudburst occurrence.
- The event highlights increased disaster risks in Uttarakhand linked to extreme precipitation since 2010 and ongoing concerns over unregulated construction near riverbeds that exacerbate flood damage.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Rain Data Doesn't Support Claim Cloudburst Caused Uttarkashi Disaster: Experts
A cloudburst in the upper catchment of the Kheer Ganga river is widely believed to have triggered the flash flood in Uttarkashi's Dharali, but experts feel the amount of rain the Uttarkashi district received on Tuesday was not enough.
Uttarkashi tragedy: Dharali flash flood has meteorologists scrambling for answers
Initial reports from the Uttarakhand government attributed the disaster to a cloudburst, a phenomenon characterised by extremely heavy rainfall over a short period, typically exceeding 100 mm in an hour.
Graphic Era’s Medical Team leaves for Dharali
Garhwal Post Bureau Dehradun, 5 Aug: A team of doctors from Graphic Era Hospital left for Dharali (Uttarkashi) late tonight to help people affected by the disaster. After getting the news of the severe disaster in Dharali, an emergency meeting was held at the hospital. A medical relief team of doctors and nurses was quickly formed. This team left with ambulances and medicines. Dr Ashok and Dr Ankit Tomar are also part of the team. They will wor…
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