Uttarkashi floods: Villagers get cheques of Rs 5,000 each, say amount 'inadequate, not reflecting the reality'

Uttarkashi flash floods

Days after the flash flood caused massive destruction in Uttarakhand's Dharali village, the residents were given cheques of Rs 5,000 each -- terming it as "immediate relief". However, the villagers called the amount "inadequate" given the sheer scale of destruction and severity of the disaster. according to a report by TOI.

The publication citing residents said they (villagers of Dharali) termed the relief an insult to their continuous suffering since disaster struck their village.

The village of Dharali in Uttarkashi district has been nearly erased after a suspected cloudburst triggered a deadly flash flood and mudslide. In just hours, the village’s landscape was changed forever. Residents described the disaster as a "deluge of destruction."

Within 34 seconds, the historic village was plunged into chaos. Over the next 25 minutes, the flood precisely destroyed "25 homestays, 35 hotels, and 35 homes, picked out one by one and swallowed by the earth," said Dharmendra Panwar, whose grocery shop was also washed away.

On Saturday, Uttarakhand chief minister  Pushkar Singh Dhami announced an immediate assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed and those who lost their homes in the Dharali disaster. The CM also announced the formation of a three-member committee for rehabilitation, overall revival, and strengthening of sustainable livelihood of villagers affected by the disaster.

Chaired by Secretary (Revenue), the committee will submit its preliminary report to the government within a week. It will prepare a blueprint of a long-term and effective policy for the future of Dharali village, so that the safety and livelihood of the local community can be ensured.

At least four persons were killed and dozens feared washed away in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand after flash floods triggered by torrential rain hit the Kheer Ganga river on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) afternoon. Authorities launched a massive rescue effort, saving 825 people by Saturday using helicopters. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan reviewed relief operations and appointed IG SDRF Arun Mohan Joshi to oversee rescue efforts, including building a Bailey bridge for road access.

Dharali now faces a challenge similar to Silkyara, with deep debris making rescue difficult. Experts say technology cannot reach those buried 15-20 feet deep, leaving manual digging as the only option.