A devastating flash flood surged through a Himalayan town in India’s Uttarakhand state on Tuesday, killing at least four people and leaving around 100 others missing.
The torrent of mud and water barrelled down a steep mountain valley, striking the town of Dharali and destroying multiple buildings.
“This is a serious situation,” said Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, in a statement to the Press Trust of India (PTI). “We have received reports of four deaths and around 100 people missing. We are praying for their safety.”
Terror in the Mountains
Footage aired on Indian television showed massive waves of sludge engulfing entire buildings. People were seen fleeing moments before being swept away by the flood.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the disaster as “extremely sad and distressing” and confirmed that emergency crews had been deployed “on a war footing.”
Military Joins Rescue Mission
India’s army deployed 150 troops to Dharali and rescued at least 20 survivors. “A massive mudslide struck the town, triggering a sudden rush of debris and icy water,” the army stated.
Photographs from the area showed streets buried beneath a thick layer of mud, which reached up to rooftops in several locations.
State Disaster Response Force commander Arpan Yaduvanshi said some buildings were completely buried under 15 metres (50 feet) of sludge.
“Rescue operations are ongoing,” army spokesman Suneel Bartwal said. “All available resources are being deployed to find and evacuate anyone still trapped.”
Climate Alarm Bells Ring Louder
The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert, noting “extremely heavy” rainfall measuring about 21 centimetres (eight inches) in parts of Uttarakhand. Officials confirmed the flood was triggered by a sudden “cloudburst”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and pledged that “no stone is being left unturned” in relief efforts.
Experts linked the disaster to climate change and reckless development. Harjeet Singh, a climate activist from the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, described the tragedy as a deadly mix of global warming and poor land-use policies.
“Our warming climate is supercharging monsoons with intense rain,” he said. “At the same time, we continue to cut down hills and block rivers, weakening our natural defences. This devastation must be our final wake-up call.”