A serious incident of cloudburst was reported in Dharali village near Khir Gad in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand on Tuesday, due to which flash floods and debris killed at least four people, while many are still missing. The area, about 10 km from Harsil, has been badly affected by heavy rainfall. Relief and rescue operations are underway, in which teams of the Army, NDRF, SDRF, the fire department, and local police are engaged.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that evacuating people safely is the government’s priority. This accident is another example of the ever-increasing natural disasters in the state. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said that evacuation work is being given priority, and the government is keeping a close watch on the situation. All necessary resources have been dispatched.
The incident is another in a string of meteorological disasters that have occurred in the state in recent years, especially during the monsoon.
Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state prone to extreme weather, has faced several devastating cloudbursts and floods in recent years.
Here are the last five major cloudburst or flooding incidents in Uttarakhand:
Kedarnath (June 2013):
On June 16, 2013, a disastrous cloudburst in Uttarakhand triggered massive floods and landslides, devastating entire villages and towns. Thousands of people were swept away, with many never found. Official reports estimate that over 6,000 lives were lost in the disaster.
Dehradun, Tehri, and Pauri (20 August 2022):
Heavy rains caused rivers to overflow. Bridges collapsed in Raipur-Kumalda, Tapkeshwar temple was flooded, and the Song river bridge was washed away. SDRF evacuated people from the affected areas.
Dharchula, Pithoragarh (September 2022):
A cloudburst in Khotila village led to flooding of the Kali river, causing debris to enter homes and killing a woman.
Ghansali, Tehri Garhwal (August 1, 2024):
A cloudburst in Notar Nallah swept away a dhaba, killing two people and injuring their son. A landslide near Bhim Bali Nallah damaged the Kedarnath footpath, leaving around 200 pilgrims stranded.
Kedarnath Valley, Rudraprayag (August 2, 2024):
Heavy rains caused massive floods and landslides in the Kedarnath area. The pilgrimage had to be halted, and many people lost their lives. The situation reminded me of the 2013 tragedy.
Yamunotri Highway, Uttarkashi (29 June 2025):
The cloudburst triggered a landslide, destroying workers’ shelters. Two dead and seven missing. Chardham Yatra was halted, and many roads remained closed. Red alert was issued.
What is Cloudburst, and why does It Occur?
Cloudburst is a weather phenomenon in which excessive rainfall occurs in a very short period of time. This phenomenon can sometimes be accompanied by hail and strong thunder.
It is a sudden heavy rainfall in which more than 100 mm (or 10 cm) of rain falls in a particular area (about 20 to 30 square kilometers) within an hour. Such heavy rains often cause disasters like floods.
A cloudburst usually occurs in a limited area and is especially seen in places like the mountainous areas of the Himalayas or the Western Ghats.
When warm monsoon winds encounter cold winds, large clouds are formed. This process is due to the geographical structure or topographical features of the place. If 10 cm of rain is recorded at a place within an hour, it is classified as a cloudburst.
