Uttarakhand flood: 9 soldiers feared missing after cloudburst hits Indian army camp

At least nine soldiers are feared missing after a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst hit an Army camp in Harshil, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday afternoon.

The extreme weather event occurred around 1:45pm near Dharali village, approximately 4km from the Indian Army’s base at Harshil.

Dharali, a key stop on the route to Gangotri, is known for its hotels, homestays and proximity to the Kheer Ganga river—whose catchment area was the epicentre of the downpour.

Army launches rescue ops

According to the Army, despite the unit being severely affected, the soldiers launched immediate rescue operations. “Eleven personnel are feared missing. But the team continues to operate with unwavering determination,” an official statement said.

Within minutes of the incident, 150 Army personnel were mobilised. Rescue efforts began to evacuate trapped civilians and provide critical support to the affected area. The ongoing rainfall hampered operations, delaying the deployment of aerial support.

‘Extreme adversity shows Army’s resilience’

Dr Suneel Bartwal, spokesperson for the Army, said: “This mudslide reflects the true spirit of the Indian Army—resilient, selfless, and always committed to the nation.”

Additional troops are being moved in to assist with operations.

Entire buildings swept away, debris 50 feet deep

As visuals of the destruction emerged, horrifying scenes showed multi-storey buildings collapsing and residents being engulfed by torrents of mud and debris.

In some parts of Dharali, the mud is reportedly 50 feet deep, according to SDRF commander Arpan Yaduvanshi. "Search and rescue efforts are ongoing with all available resources deployed," he said.

Four confirmed dead, 100 missing

Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth confirmed that at least four civilians were killed, with over 100 still missing. Rescue workers are racing against time to locate survivors.

The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert, recording 21 cm of rainfall in parts of Uttarakhand within a short span — a classic sign of a cloudburst.

Relief on war footing

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called the disaster “extremely distressing”. He confirmed that NDRF, SDRF, and the district administration are working round the clock in the devastated zone.

"Helicopters couldn’t be deployed due to poor visibility," added Principal Secretary R K Sudhanshu.

Climate warning: A deadly cocktail of risk

Experts warn that cloudbursts and flash floods are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change and unregulated development.

“This tragedy is a deadly cocktail,” said climate expert Harjeet Singh. “Global warming is super-charging our monsoons, while unscientific construction and environmental neglect are destroying our natural defences.”

The UN’s World Meteorological Organisation has also issued repeated warnings that such erratic events are a “distress signal” of a worsening climate crisis.