A sudden and intense cloudburst struck Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, triggering massive flash floods and landslides. The disaster wreaked havoc across the region, sweeping away homes, roads, and people in its path.
One striking video shared by news agency ANI showed the River Ganga swelling to the extent that it touched the idol of Lord Shiva at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram’s Aarti Sthal in Rishikesh, a haunting visual of nature’s overwhelming force.
Watch here:
#WATCH | Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: At the Aarti Sthal of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, River Ganga touches the idol of Lord Shiva. pic.twitter.com/DB2y83mCDD
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2025
Rescue Efforts Underway as Toll Rises
The cloudburst led to disastrous floods that took the lives of five people so far, with many more missing. Among the missing are 11 army personnel. As per the reports, more than 100 people remain unaccounted for following the flash floods.
CM Dhami on Ground
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the disaster-hit zones early on Wednesday. He began with an aerial survey of Dharali and adjoining areas before leading a review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Dehradun.
ALSO READ: Man Cheats Death, Crawls Out From Landslide Rubble After Uttarkashi Cloudburst
Providing an update, Dhami stated, “Ten DSPs, three SPs and around 160 police officials are engaged in carrying out rescue operations. Helicopters of the army are also ready. As soon as the weather improves, the helicopters will be used for rescue operations,” as reported by ANI.
He added, “All our agencies, including the Indian Army, ITBP, SDRF, NDRF and locals, are doing the rescue work. Due to damage to the roads and a bridge, it has become difficult to reach the spot. The Disaster Operations Station in Dehradun is working 24 hours to provide all possible assistance.”
ALSO READ: Uttarkashi Cloudburst: Moment of Devastation Caught on Camera
PM Modi Extends Help
On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to CM Dhami to take stock of the situation and ongoing relief efforts. After their conversation, Dhami expressed his appreciation on social media: “Heartfelt gratitude to the honourable Prime Minister for extending all possible assistance.”
As search and rescue operations continue amid difficult weather conditions and collapsed infrastructure, authorities remain on high alert to mitigate further risks in the rain-battered region.
