100 missing after flash flood washes out Indian Himalayan town

A catastrophic flash flood struck the Himalayan town of Dharali in India’s Uttarakhand state on Tuesday, leaving at least five people confirmed dead and more than 100 others missing, officials said.

The disaster unfolded when torrential rainfall triggered a sudden mudslide and a powerful torrent of water, sweeping through a narrow mountain valley before engulfing the town. The floodwaters demolished multiple buildings, uprooted trees, and left several roads and bridges destroyed, severely hampering rescue efforts.
India’s Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, described the situation as “serious and deeply concerning,” urging for prayers for those missing. “We have confirmed five deaths so far, and around 100 people are still unaccounted for. Rescue teams are working relentlessly to locate survivors,” he said, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Shocking videos aired by Indian news channels captured the sheer force of nature as raging muddy waters swept away entire multi-storey apartment blocks. In one clip, residents were seen frantically running for safety before being consumed by the wall of water and debris.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said emergency response teams were operating “on a war footing,” with specialized disaster management units and the Indian Army deployed for rescue and relief. Around 150 army personnel were already on-site, managing to save at least 20 people trapped in the flood zone.
State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Commander Arpan Yaduvanshi reported that some parts of the town were buried under as much as 50 feet (15 meters) of sludge and debris, making access extremely difficult. Entire residential blocks are believed to have been buried.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued a red alert for Uttarakhand, citing “extremely heavy” rainfall in isolated areas, with some parts recording up to 21 centimeters (8 inches) of rain in just a few hours. Experts warn that more heavy rainfall could worsen conditions in the coming days.
The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, often referred to as the “Land of the Gods” and a popular tourist destination, is highly prone to natural disasters, including flash floods and landslides, especially during the monsoon season. Climate scientists have repeatedly warned that the region’s fragile ecosystem, combined with unplanned urban development and changing rainfall patterns, increases the risk of such catastrophic events.