As floods wreak havoc in Uttarkashi, a look at other such disasters that shook the hills

Devastating visuals of the Uttarkashi cloudburst

Uttarkashi is currently reeling from a devastating cloudburst and the subsequent floods that have been triggered in the Kheer Ganga catchment area. The tragedy struck on August 5 and several homes, roads and hotels have since then been swept away by the raging waters of the flash floods.

Several people have been confirmed dead, while 50 to 100 others are feared missing. This includes several army personnel whose camp was hit by the aggressive disaster in the hills of Uttarkashi. Distressing visuals of the destruction have emerged, showing residents running for their lives as the floodwaters surged through narrow valleys and populated slopes.

As Uttarkashi continues to cope with the tragedy, here is a look at several other natural disasters that have time and again struck the hills of India and shook the nation by their devastating nature.

1. Kedarnath Flash Floods (2013)

In June 2013, a catastrophic cloudburst and sudden glacial lake outburst above Kedarnath wreaked massive havoc and triggered massive flash floods and landslides in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. During the tragedy, the Mandakini River turned raging and swept away everything that came in its path. The Kedarnath town, known for holy purposes was buried under mud, rocks and debris. Over 5,000 people lost their lives, with thousands more reported injured or missing.

2. Uttarkashi Earthquake (1991)

Unfortunately, the cloudburst that Uttarkashi is currently witnessing is not the only natural disaster that the region has seen. On October 20, 1991, a devastating earthquake that measured 6.8 on the Richter scale hit the Garhwal Himalayas. The earthquake had Uttarkashi at its epicentre. Villages after villages were flattened, ancient temples collapsed and over 1,000 people were killed in the aftermath of the earthquake.

3. Chamoli Glacier Burst (2021)

In February 2021, a massive chunk of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in the Chamoli district near Joshimath. The glacier burst caused a sudden flash flood in the Rishi Ganga and Dhauliganga rivers. The deluge that subsequently unfolded destroyed two major hydropower projects—Rishi Ganga and NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad plant—leading to over 80 deaths and over 100 people reported to be missing.

4.  Malpa Landslide (1998)

Though it is geographically in Kumaon, the Malpa landslide that happened in August 1998 is often mentioned in the list of disasters that hit the land of Uttarakhand. A massive landslide triggered by heavy rainfall wiped out the village of Malpa in 1998. The landslide killed over 200 people, including 60 pilgrims who were on their way to Kailash Mansarovar. The landslide struck at night, giving victims no chance to escape.

5. Joshimath Land Subsidence (2022–23)

In late 2022 and early 2023, the town of Joshimath— which serves as a gateway to both Badrinath and Kedarnath— began sinking. As the disaster progressed, hundreds of homes developed cracks, roads warped and entire neighbourhoods were evacuated in a bid to save human life from impending tragedies. The cause was reported to be a combination of rampant construction, tunnelling for hydroelectric projects and compromised drainage. Over 800 buildings were marked unsafe and the town was declared a landslide-prone zone.