Cloudburst in India Triggers Flooding, Landslide

(MENAFN) A large-scale emergency response is in progress to find nearly 100 individuals reported unaccounted for after a mudslide and sudden flooding, caused by a cloudburst, devastated a small village in northern India.

The calamity struck on Tuesday in Dharali, a village located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.
So far, rescue teams have succeeded in saving several individuals from the debris and flooded zones.

“Rescue operations are ongoing at a war footing,” declared Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday.

“We are working with full vigilance and promptness to ensure that swift and adequate assistance reaches the affected,” he added, emphasizing the urgency and scale of the operation.

The Indian Army, which reported that at least nine of its personnel are currently missing due to the incident, said that more army units have been dispatched to bolster search and rescue efforts.

These reinforcements include tracking dogs, aerial surveillance drones, logistics drones, and heavy machinery to accelerate progress on the ground.

“Army and Air Force helicopters for essential supplies, medicines and evacuation of the marooned are also being coordinated. In the meanwhile, residents have been moved to higher reaches in view of rising water levels due to incessant rains,” stated the Army’s Central Command in a post on X.

Sanjay Seth, the Minister of State for Defense, described the situation as “serious” and confirmed that four individuals have died so far.

“Around 100 are missing,” he informed a news agency.

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