Flash floods wreak havoc in Dharali village after a sudden cloudburst near Gangotri, leaving destruction and casualties in their wake (ANI)
Kheer Ganga is a river that derives its catchment from a sudden cloudburst which was the cause of massive flash floods on Tuesday, devastating a high-altitude village of Dharali which in fact is an essential stopover on one's way to Gangotri in Uttarakhand. It has been accounted the taking of not less than four lives, while fears abound that a lot more must be trapped under the debris, say local authorities.
According to officials, damages have incurred to several houses or even washed out completely. The bereavements have been confirmed by the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi Prashant Arya who further reiterated that an Army rescue team from Harsil has been dispatched. Local residence Rajesh Panwar concurs that about 10-12 individuals must be under the debris, as well as up to 25 hotels and homestays likely destroyed in the flood.
Dharali also has hospitality establishments directed to pilgrims and tourists going to Gangotri. Locals said the flash flood came after intense rainfall due to a cloudburst somewhere upstream in the Kheer Ganga catchment, resulting in sudden surge of water followed by debris.
It is the phenomenon of very heavy rains falling independently over small geographical areas for a brief time. Very intense rainfall during a period lasting only minutes to few hours usually produces more than 100 mm of rain per hour over a circulation area of less than 10 km², which has serious effects in the forms of flash floods and landslides.
Such an event is caused by moisture-laden clouds that fail gradually release their contents. Instead, it is under unstable atmospheric conditions or strong convection wherein moisture is suddenly released. This phenomenon makes it much more vulnerable for hilly regions, such as Himalayas.
Cloudbursts remain among the most deadly and unpredictable natural events, particularly in the Himalayan belt.
ALSO READ: Uttarkashi Devastated by Massive Cloudburst and Flash Flood
