‘Swept Away in 15 Seconds’: Flash Flood Devastates Uttarkashi Villages Amid Festival

Panic as Sudden Flood Strikes During Temple Mela in Dharali

Uttarakhand: Tragedy struck Uttarkashi on Tuesday afternoon as a sudden flash flood tore through the villages of Dharali and Harsil, sweeping away people and property in mere seconds. What was meant to be a festive gathering turned catastrophic within moments.

At around 2 pm, locals near Dharali heard a deafening rumble from Kheer Ganga. Among them was Ramesh Chandra from Mukhba village, who, along with others, captured the shocking visuals on camera. His son, Suman Semwal, watching from Uttarkashi town, rushed to contact him and was relieved to find him safe — though not all were as fortunate.

“They tried to warn the villagers by shouting, but couldn’t be heard over the roar of the water. They whistled, and people began to run — but many were swept away before they understood what was happening,” Semwal recalled.

The area was crowded due to a religious fair at Someshwar Temple, attracting visitors from across Uttarakhand. Arunav Nautiyal, a local hotelier, has been unable to contact his friend in Harsil since the floodwaters reached there. He reported widespread power outages and mobile towers being damaged, cutting off communication with surrounding villages.

Locals Dispute Cloudburst Claim as Investigations Continue

Despite the state government attributing the incident to a cloudburst, IMD data showed only moderate rainfall — raising questions about the true cause. Nautiyal believes it wasn't a cloudburst but the result of upstream landslides blocking and then releasing water.

Ironically, the lull in tourist traffic during monsoon may have averted an even larger disaster in this popular Char Dham route stopover.