The disaster unleashed devastating flash floods and debris flows and resulted in at least four deaths, including civilians and security personnel, and left dozens—possibly up to 100 people—missing.

Three back-to-back cloudbursts within hours caused torrents of mud and water to roar down slopes, wiping out homes, shops, hotels, and cutting off critical infrastructure. Eyewitnesses described the spectacle as terrifying, with rivers of debris engulfing buildings and roads.

An Army camp at Harshil, just 4 km from Dharali, was also hit. Although some soldiers have been rescued and treated at military facilities, at least nine to eleven soldiers are feared missing.

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There was a swift mobilization of teams from the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, and ITBP. With the help of rescue dogs, drones, helicopters, and earth-moving equipment deployed under challenging terrain and persistent rain, the forces have rescued around 130 people.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called on authorities to accelerate rescue measures and provide accommodation, food, medicines, and connectivity using satellite phones. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered full support and assured that "no stone is being left unturned" to assist victims.

Across Uttarakhand, heavy rainfall warnings remain in force, and in nine districts, schools have been shut down.

A combination of climate change, unsustainable development, and increased tourism in fragile hilly terrain are the reasons that experts have attributed to the disaster. Uttarakhand has historically been prone to ecological disasters triggered by erratic monsoon events.

The tragedy in Dharali underlines the urgent need for strengthened disaster preparedness and environment-sensitive planning in the Himalayan region.