Uttarkashi Cloudburst Leaves Survivors and Rescuers Grappling with Trauma

8th August 2025 at 10:13 AM

1 minute read

Heavy rain continued to lash Uttarakhand on Wednesday as rescue operations were ongoing on a war footing after a devastating cloudburst struck the ecologically fragile Uttarkashi district.

DEHRADUN: A catastrophic cloudburst in Uttarkashi’s Dharali and Harsil regions has left a trail of physical and emotional devastation, with survivors and rescuers battling severe injuries and psychological trauma. The disaster, which struck on Tuesday, swept away homes, businesses, and infrastructure, leaving victims with fractured bones, blunt force injuries, and mud-filled lungs, according to hospital reports from Uttarakhand.

Among the injured, a Lieutenant Colonel is receiving treatment at the Military Hospital in Dehradun for a fractured leg and other trauma-related injuries sustained during rescue efforts. At least a dozen others, including villagers and Army personnel involved in the response, are under medical care across the state. Doctors have reported removing mud and stones from deep within patients’ bodies, highlighting the violent force of the floodwaters that carried debris and sludge through the villages.

Amardeep, a road construction worker from Amritsar, recounted the chaos of the event. “We were walking from Harsil to Dharali in a rescue group when the cloudburst hit,” he told. “The water swept us away. We had no control.” His group of nearly 20 was caught in the deluge, underscoring the sudden and overwhelming nature of the disaster.

A psychiatrist treating victims in Uttarkashi, described the profound mental toll on survivors. “They are under immense stress,” she said. “Many are still processing the event, grappling with fear, sadness, and confusion, though some are slowly beginning to cope.” Health Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar confirmed that 13 people were admitted to hospitals, with five transferred to Dehradun for advanced care, including three to AIIMS and two to the Military Hospital.

Rescue operations continue in the devastated regions, with teams from the Army, SDRF, NDRF, and ITBP working tirelessly to locate missing individuals and provide aid. The flash floods, triggered by the cloudburst, threw some victims 150 meters through sludge-filled torrents, compounding the physical and emotional scars left by this tragedy.