Massive Landslide in Dharali Village

1. What exactly happened in Dharali?

In early August 2025, Dharali village in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district was cut off after a massive landslide and debris flow blocked access routes. The disaster stranded residents, pilgrims, and tourists. Over two days, the Indian Army and Air Force evacuated nearly 355 people to safety in Harsil using helicopters, as road access was severely damaged.

2. What are the suspected causes of the collapse?

Investigations point to multiple possibilities:

• Cloudburst: An intense, localised rainfall event that can quickly destabilise slopes.
• Glacier or snow slab collapse: A sudden failure of ice masses in higher reaches.
• Heavy monsoon rainfall: Saturating soil and rocks, triggering slope failure.

Experts note that prolonged rainfall and steep gradients make the terrain highly unstable.

3. What is the difference between a cloudburst and a glacier collapse?

• Cloudburst: A meteorological event involving extremely heavy rainfall (often over 100 mm/hour) in a small area, causing sudden floods.
• Glacier collapse: The breaking away of large ice chunks from a glacier, which can mix with debris and water to form destructive flows.

4. How were rescue operations carried out?

• Air Evacuations: Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters transported people from cut-off areas to safer zones downstream.
• On-Ground Clearance: Border Roads Organisation (BRO) used excavators to clear blocked stretches and restore connectivity.
• Medical Aid: Evacuated individuals received immediate medical checks and emergency supplies.

5. Why is the Uttarakhand Himalaya prone to such disasters?

• Young and fragile mountains prone to erosion.
• Intense rainfall due to monsoon and climate variability.
• Human activity like deforestation, road construction, and hydropower projects destabilising slopes.
• Glacial retreat linked to rising global temperatures.

6. Have similar disasters occurred in the past?

• Kedarnath floods (2013): A cloudburst and glacier lake outburst killed thousands.
• Chamoli glacier burst (2021): Triggered a flash flood, destroying infrastructure.
• Frequent landslides in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh during monsoon seasons.

7. What measures can prevent or reduce such risks?

• Establishing real-time weather and landslide early warning systems.
• Restricting construction in high-risk zones.
• Strengthening slope stability with afforestation and controlled blasting.
• Conducting scientific impact assessments before new infrastructure projects.
• Training local communities in emergency evacuation.

8. What does this mean for future infrastructure in the region?

While roads and border infrastructure are vital for connectivity and defence, they must be built with geo-engineering safeguards. Policymakers must balance strategic needs with environmental resilience.