Villagers desperately tried to escape rivers of thick mud after a cloudburst flash flood washed their homes away.
At least four people lost their lives and more than 60 are missing after a massive downpour triggered flash floods in Dharali, India, yesterday (7 Aug).
The sudden deluge swept through homes and hotels, burying structures under thick layers of mud and debris.
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Heart-wrenching footage showed a man desperately trying to crawl through slush to escape the aftermath of the flood.
A second shocking clip shows a black car carrying passengers being swept away in the deluge, vanishing into the raging waters as helpless onlookers watched from across the river.
Voices in the footage express panic and disbelief.
One man shouts, “Look at that car,” while another adds, “There are people inside”.
The cloudburst occurred around 1:45pm and is believed to have originated in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river, according to local residents.
Dharali is a key stop for pilgrims and tourists heading to Gangotri, as reported by Need To Know.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, expressed condolences to the families of those impacted and assured that relief efforts were underway.
He stated that he had spoken with Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, and that rescue personnel were actively working under state supervision to assist victims.
Home Minister, Amit Shah, directed seven rescue teams to be sent to the site.
Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, also addressed the tragedy, noting the severity of the destruction and pledging coordinated efforts between the central and state governments to save lives.
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