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The flash flood in Uttarkashi's Kheer Gad river on August 5, 2025, reshaped Dharali town and heightened risks for Harshil.
An artificial lake formed on the Bhagirathi river, but authorities assure it's not dangerous as water drains continuously.
Efforts are underway to manually open the lake's mouth due to road access issues, while search operations continue for 42 missing individuals.
The sudden flash flood in the Kheer Gad (or Kheer Ganga) river in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on August 5, 2025, did not just change the map of Dharali town. It also increased risks for nearby Harshil.
On August 5, not just Kheer Ganga but another river/rivulet, the Telu Gad in Harshil also overflowed and caused damage to the army camp.
Even more worryingly, a lake formed on the Bhagirathi river. The irrigation department of Uttarakhand has assured that there is no danger from this lake, because water is draining continuously from it. Due to lack of road access to Harshil, efforts are being made to open the mouth of the lake manually.
Six days after the Dharali tragedy, the administration finally gave information about the people missing in the disaster. Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said in a press conference at the disaster control room in Uttarkashi that 43 people were reported missing in the tragedy so far. Among them, the body of Dharali village Akash Panwar has been recovered.
Financial assistance has been provided to the family of the deceased youth. The remaining 42 missing people include nine army personnel, eight residents from Dharali village and five from nearby areas. One person from Tehri district, 13 from Bihar and six from Uttar Pradesh are also reported missing.
Pandey said apart from these, 29 Nepali labourers were also reported missing. However, after the mobile network was restored, five of these persons were contacted.
There is no further information about the remaining 24 workers from their contractors. It is believed that like the five workers who have been found safe so far, the remaining workers may also have gone somewhere else, seeking shelter.
He said many people who were reported missing during the Kedarnath disaster had returned to their homes from the affected area. Efforts are being made to trace the missing people in other states by gathering their addresses. The final facts about these people are expected to be clear in a day or two.
According to Pandey, 1,278 people have been evacuated safely from the disaster-affected area. A special officer along with the National Disaster Response Force team has been deployed on the spot to search for people buried under the debris. The inspector general of the state disaster response force is also camping in the area. A special team of 10 expert geologists has also been sent from Dehradun.
According to the divisional commissioner, the distribution of Rs 5 lakh as ex gratia has been started on an immediate basis among the disaster-affected people of Dharali village. Adequate amount of food grains, clothes and daily use items have been provided to them. A high-level committee of three members has been formed under the chairmanship of the revenue secretary to advise on the relief and rehabilitation of the affected people.
The divisional commissioner informed that the irrigation department and Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited had started work from August 10 itself to drain out water from the lake formed on the Bhagirathi in Harshil.
Subhash Chandra, chief engineer of the irrigation department in Dehradun, told Down to Earth (DTE) that the lake was formed on August 5 due to debris in the Bhagirathi. He inspected the lake on August 7. It was then hoped that once the approach road to the area was repaired, the lake could be drained with machines. But then, it was decided to try and drain it manually. Twenty workers, two assistant engineers and five junior engineers have been sent to the lake by helicopter.
Chandra hoped that after the bailey bridge is built in Limchagad (the existing bridge was damaged in the flash flood), the road construction beyond will be completed in a couple of days. Four Poclain excavators can then be taken to the lake, following which debris can be removed and the lake’s water drained out safely.
He dismissed speculations in the media that the lake is a threat to Harshil. “It is true that 90 per cent of the Bhagirathi’s width has been blocked by debris. But 10 per cent of the water from the right side of the lake is continuously overflowing. The level of the lake is almost the same as it was on the evening of August 5. It is not true that it is continuously increasing in size. The lake is 1.3 kilometres long and about 75-80 metres wide,” Chandra said.
The chief engineer added that his team present on the spot is trying to widen the mouth of the lake manually from the right side. If the water level of the lake can be reduced by even one metre, the water will drain out from the road on the left side. After this, the debris on the road can be removed.
Care is also being taken to ensure the safety of the workers trying to drain the lake, according to Chandra. Instructions have been given to proceed with operations only after making safety arrangements.
Rainfall is expected to reduce in Uttarkashi on August 12. Rohit Thapliyal, in-charge of Meteorological Centre Dehradun, told DTE that light to moderate and at some places heavy rain is expected in the district on August 11.
Can this heavy rain also occur in Harshil and its surrounding areas i.e. the currently affected area?
In response to this question, Thapliyal said it is not possible to answer this right now. However, he said there will be relief in the weather after August 12 morning. This relief, though, will be for only one day. There is a forecast of rain in the district again from August 13.
The weather in Uttarkashi was recorded to be normal in the week of the disaster in Dharali. The data of the Meteorological Department shows that average rainfall in Uttarkashi in the period from July 30-August 6 is 104.4 mm. The actual rainfall recorded during this period was only 104.1 mm.
This means that Kheer Ganga or Kheer Gad did not overflow due to excessive rainfall or (cloud burst). More studies are needed to know the real reasons beyond speculations.