A flash flood swept through a village in the Himalayas in northern India on Tuesday.
At least 50 people are missing and four are dead, with the toll expected to rise.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told a local news outlet at least 190 people have been rescued.
“The disaster has completely hit the entire Dharali,” said Dhami.
The flood also tore though buildings, swept away dozens of homes and markets, and set off several mudslides. It also damaged roads, reducing connectivity to certain parts of the village.
The calamity was triggered by sudden and intense rains near the Dharali village. More than 150 personnel were mobilized to the disaster area, as per the Indian Army.
On Wednesday, the Indian Meteorological Department confirmed that a cloudburst hit the area. These heavy-pouring rains are common in the Himalayan region during the monsoon season.
The flood also affected the Indian Army Camp in Harsil, a few hours away from Dharali, where 11 army personnel were reported missing, as The Associated Press reported.
The Indian army, in a post on X on Wednesday, stated that the government has deployed rescue teams with “earth-moving equipment,” along with drones, rescue dogs and medical assistance teams to continue to look for the people still missing.
Local authorities cautioned people to keep a distance from the flowing water in their communities while the federal government ensures relief and rescue missions are underway. The authorities also attached pictures with their update in a social media post.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the victims and their families and assured the public that “no stone” will be “left unturned in providing assistance to the people.”
The state of Uttarakhand is susceptible to monsoon flooding. As The New York Times notes, more than 6,000 people died in the 2013 floods and landslides. They were presumed dead after being missing for more than a month.
