Uttarakhand Cloudburst Tragedy: 5 Dead, 28 Tourists Missing in Dharali Landslide

A cloudburst-triggered landslide in Uttarakhand’s Dharali has killed 5, with 28 Kerala tourists missing. Rescue teams battle bad weather to locate survivors as 190 people are evacuated. PM Modi assures support while damaged roads hinder relief efforts.

Uttarkashi: So far, 5 people have been confirmed dead in the massive disaster caused by cloudburst and landslide on 5 August 2025 in the Dharali area of the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, while a group of 28 Kerala tourists are missing. This information has been given by the families of the missing tourists, who are very worried at this time.

Information about missing tourists

20 people in the missing group are natives of Kerala who now live in Maharashtra, while 8 others are from various districts of Kerala. These tourists had set out on a 10-day Uttarakhand trip through a Haridwar-based travel agency and were going from Uttarkashi to Gangotri.

A relative of the tourists said that they had last spoken to their family members a day before the disaster. They have not been contacted since then. It is being speculated that due to a lack of mobile network in the disaster-affected area or due to the phone's battery running out, they are unable to contact.

Horrific devastation in Dharali

Due to cloudburst and landslide, almost half of Dharali village is buried under mud, debris, and floodwater. This area is a major stop on the Gangotri Yatra route, where there are many hotels and homestays, which are now badly affected. So far 190 people have been rescued and taken to safe places.

Relief and rescue work

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that teams of the Indian Army and NDRF are engaged in rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also assured all possible help. Relief work is facing difficulties due to road blockage, but efforts are being made to fix it as soon as the weather improves. The injured are being taken to AIIMS hospital for treatment.

Matter of concern

This disaster has once again highlighted the seriousness of accidents that occur during the rainy season in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand. The government needs to strengthen better weather forecasting and emergency arrangements for the safety of tourists.

This incident in Dharali is a major human tragedy where many people are still expected to survive. Army and NDRF teams are engaged in rescue work with full force, but the work is being hampered due to rain and bad weather. The families of the tourists are currently relying on God and are hoping that their loved ones will be found safe soon.