Uttarakhand has faced multiple cloudbursts this monsoon season, causing flash floods, landslides, and damage across the state. The most recent event struck Karligadh in Dehradun’s Sahastradhara area late Monday night. Heavy rainfall swept away shops and trapped two people, who are still missing.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a post on X, “Heavy rains have caused damage to shops. The district administration, SDRF, and police teams are carrying out relief efforts.”
Rescue operations began immediately. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams evacuated locals to safer areas. Heavy machinery, including JCBs, is being used to clear debris and continue the search for the missing. Authorities reported that several shops on the riverbank were destroyed, with losses running into lakhs, but timely evacuation prevented greater casualties.
The Tamsa River rose sharply after the cloudburst, inundating the Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple. Temple priest Acharya Bipin Joshi said, “The river started flowing heavily at 5 AM. The entire temple premises were submerged… Losses have been incurred at various places… People should avoid going near rivers at this time.” He confirmed the sanctum sanctorum was safe and no human loss had been reported.
Uttarakhand’s monsoon season has been especially severe this year. From June to September, the state has recorded at least four major cloudbursts that have caused fatalities, displaced communities, and damaged infrastructure. The latest incident in Dehradun affected the Sahastradhara and Vikasnagar areas, washing away vehicles and collapsing roads and bridges.
Earlier events include a cloudburst on June 29 near the Yamunotri Highway in Uttarkashi district, which triggered landslides and damaged workers’ shelters.
Major cloudbursts in Uttrakhand in 2025
| Date | Location | Key Impacts | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 29, 2025 | Yamunotri Highway, Uttarkashi district | Landslide triggered; workers’ shelters destroyed; no specific casualty count reported | Cloudburst near the highway caused a landslide, disrupting access and damaging temporary laborer shelters |
| August 5, 2025 | Dharali village and Sukhi Top, Uttarkashi district | At least 5 deaths; over 50 missing; hundreds rescued; entire village (homes, shops, hotels) washed away; flash floods in Kheer Ganga river; road to Gangotri Dham severed; Char Dham Yatra disrupted | Multiple cloudbursts around 1:30 PM led to Kheer Ganga river overflow with silt and debris. Army, NDRF, ITBP, and SDRF rescued over 190 people. Ongoing searches for missing persons |
| August 23, 2025 | Tharali region, Chamoli district | Homes, shops, and official buildings destroyed; Alaknanda River levels rose, causing panic; disruptions to pilgrims; no confirmed deaths but fear of further landslides | Cloudburst-induced heavy rainfall triggered debris flows and flooding. Locals evacuated to higher ground amid warnings of climate-driven Himalayan disasters |
| September 16, 2025 | Sahastradhara and Vikasnagar, Dehradun district | 2 people missing; several swept away or trapped; shops and hotels damaged; Tamsa River swelled; road/bridge collapses; vehicles washed away near Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple; NDRF/SDRF rescues ongoing | Overnight cloudburst caused rapid river rise and flooding. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected sites; PM Modi and HM Amit Shah assured central aid. IMD issued a red alert for continued heavy rain |
The Himalayan terrain of Uttarakhand amplifies the effects of cloudbursts. Steep slopes, narrow valleys, and climate-driven weather patterns cause rivers to swell rapidly, triggering flash floods and landslides.
Uttarakhand has faced multiple severe cloudbursts over the past few years, causing flash floods, landslides, and casualties across the state. These events have affected pilgrims, local residents, and infrastructure, highlighting the vulnerability of the Himalayan region to extreme rainfall.
Last 5 cloudbursts in Uttarakhand
| Date | Location | Key Impacts | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 29, 2025 | Yamunotri Highway, Uttarkashi district | 2 labourers killed; 7 missing; workers’ shelters destroyed; roads blocked; Chardham Yatra suspended for a day | Cloudburst triggered a landslide, blocking several roads. Authorities issued red alerts in multiple districts |
| August 2, 2024 | Kedarnath Valley, Rudraprayag district | Multiple casualties; pilgrim movement halted temporarily | Heavy rainfall caused flash floods and landslides, reminding residents of 2013 floods |
| August 1, 2024 | Ghansali, Tehri Garhwal district | 2 deaths; 1 injured; landslide damaged 25-metre stretch of Kedarnath walking path; ~200 pilgrims stranded | Cloudburst near Nautar and Bhim Bali streams caused washouts and temporary isolation of pilgrims |
| September 2022 | Dharchula, Pithoragarh district | 1 death; homes inundated with debris and mud | Cloudburst at Khotila village caused flash flood along Kali river near India-Nepal border |
| August 20, 2022 | Dehradun, Tehri, and Pauri districts | Bridges collapsed; Tapkeshwar temple caves flooded; high water at tourist spots; residents relocated | Cloudburst-induced rainfall caused rivers to overflow. SDRF teams relocated multiple villages |
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