By Soumya Ranjan 
Rescuers are searching for dozens of people who are believed to be trapped after a massive cloudburst caused heavy rains and flash floods in India’s northern state Uttarakhand.
Teams, including the army and paramilitaries, have arrived in Dharali village, Uttarkashi district, which is thought to have been hit hardest by the floods.
Dramatic videos of the disaster show a massive wave of water crashing through the area, collapsing buildings in its path. Dharali, a popular tourist destination, is home to hotels, resorts, and restaurants.
A cloudburst is a sudden and intense downpour of rain over a small area, which frequently causes flash floods.
It occurred around 13:30 India time (08:00 GMT) when a large amount of water fell, swelling the Kheerganga river and sending tonnes of muddy waters gushing down the hilly terrain, covering roads, buildings, and shops in Dharali.
Eyewitnesses from a nearby village who captured the dramatic footage of the muddy water coursing through the streets could be heard shrieking, blowing whistles, and shouting “run, run,” but said the sudden surge did not give them time to flee.
They expressed concern that many people could be trapped beneath the debris.
The ancient Kalpkedar temple is also under the slush and is thought to have been damaged, they said.
The sludge from Kheerganga has clogged a portion of the region’s main river Bhagirathi [which becomes India’s holiest river Ganges once it flows downstream] and created an artificial lake, submerging vast tracts of land, including a government helipad.
Concerns are growing that if the water is not drained quickly, it will pose a serious threat to towns and villages downstream.
Army personnel who have arrived at the scene are making announcements urging people to stay away from the water.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his “condolences to the people affected by the tragedy” in a post on social media platform X.
“I pray for the safety of all the victims… Relief and rescue teams are making every effort. No stoneis being left unturned in providing assistance to the people,” he wrote.
Earlier, Prashant Arya, Uttarkashi’s senior-most official, stated that communication had been erratic due to poor connectivity in the area.
“Because it’s a populated area with many restaurants and hotels, we’ve sent rescue teams to the scene,” he said.
Dharali is located 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) from Harsil, a popular tourist destination that also houses a large Indian army base. Nearby, there is also a paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp.
Personnel from both forces have arrived at the scene of the disaster, and officials say they are assessing the situation.
However, rescue efforts are expected to be slow as the area continues to receive heavy rains.
According to reports, some of the injured are being treated at an army camp in Harsil.