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ISRO satellite images have unveiled the devastating impact of the flood in Dharali village, Uttarakhand, showing a fan-shaped deposit of sediment and debris.
The flood altered river morphology, widened stream channels, and caused significant damage to infrastructure and human lives.
The images are crucial for ongoing rescue operations and highlight the vulnerability of Himalayan settlements to such disasters.
The catastrophic flood triggered by intense rainfall in Dharali village of Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district left a terrible mark — A fan-shaped deposit of sediment and debris, as photographed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellites.
The deposit, measuring ~750m X ~450m, is spread across a ~20ha area at the confluence of the Kheer Gad & Bhagirathi river.
The satellites revealed more tell-tale signs of the destruction wrought over Dharali.
For instance, there were indications of flash flood, with widened stream channels, altered river morphology and damage to human lives & infrastructure.
There was partial / complete destruction and disappearance of several buildings in the flood-affected zone, likely submerged or swept away by the intense mud flow and debris, according to an ISRO statement.
A number of buildings appear to be submerged with mud / debris in Dharali village, according to ISRO.
The national space agency had compared the images captured on August 7, 2025, just two days after the tragedy struck Dharali, with pre-event photographs captured on June 13, 2025.
“National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) / ISRO carried out rapid assessment of the damage using very high-resolution satellite images of India’s Cartosat-2S satellites,” the statement noted.
According to the agency, the satellite images would help the ongoing search and rescue operations to reach out to stranded individuals and restore connectivity to the isolated region.
“The event highlights increasing vulnerability of Himalayan settlements to disasters. Scientific analysis is being carried out to ascertain the cause of the triggering event,” stated ISRO.
The catastrophic flash flood struck Dharali at around 1.30 pm on August 5. The sudden deluge swept away homes, buildings, bridges, roads, and claimed human lives.
Several people are still missing even as rescue and relief operations continue in the area.
