At least four people have died and dozens remain missing after torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, local authorities confirmed on Monday.
The severe weather has caused widespread disruption in the mountainous region, forcing the evacuation of at least 70 people and cutting off access to several remote areas. Dharali village, a well-known stopover for pilgrims travelling to Gangotri — one of the holiest sites in Hinduism — has been among the hardest-hit, with rescue teams struggling to reach it due to blocked roads and ongoing landslides.
Heavy rains over the weekend unleashed flash floods in multiple districts, washing away bridges, inundating roads, and damaging homes. The relentless downpours also triggered several landslides that buried sections of the National Highway connecting Gangotri with other parts of the state, further complicating rescue operations.
“The exact number of people missing is still unclear, but our teams are continuing rescue efforts around the clock,” said an Indian Army official leading the operation. “Our priority is to reach those trapped in remote areas and evacuate them to safety.”
Efforts by the Indian Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been hampered by ongoing rainfall and unstable terrain. Helicopters have been placed on standby, but poor visibility and weather conditions have so far prevented air support from being deployed.
Local media footage showed collapsed buildings, submerged roads, and vehicles swept away by fast-moving waters. In some areas, residents were seen forming human chains to help each other across floodwaters.
Officials have urged people living in low-lying or landslide-prone zones to relocate to safer areas as more rain is forecast over the next 48 hours. Authorities have also temporarily suspended pilgrimages to Gangotri and Yamunotri, two major religious destinations located in the higher Himalayas, due to safety concerns.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences for the victims and said that all necessary resources are being deployed to assist those affected. “We are closely monitoring the situation. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to save lives,” he said in a statement.
Flash floods and landslides are common in Uttarakhand during the annual monsoon season, which typically lasts from June to September. However, experts warn that increasingly erratic rainfall and unplanned development in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem are making such disasters more frequent and more severe.
Relief camps have been set up in safer areas to house evacuees, while emergency services continue to search for those missing amid the devastation.
