Overview
- A sudden flash flood on August 5 caused the Kheerganga River to overflow and inundate Dharali village in Uttarkashi district
- Officials report at least four deaths and say recovery teams have rescued around 60 people and retrieved several bodies
- Close to 100 villagers, including 11 Indian Army personnel, remain unaccounted for as search teams comb through mud and wreckage
- More than 150 soldiers, three helicopters and specialized rescue units have been deployed but ongoing heavy rains continue to limit access to the hardest-hit areas
- Climate experts warn that rising monsoon extremes combined with unplanned development in fragile mountain zones are increasing the risk of such disasters