Mudslide kills four, over 50 missing in India’s Uttarakhand state

A massive mudslide triggered by surging floodwaters swept through a village in the northern Indian Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Tuesday, killing at least four people and leaving more than 50 missing, officials said.

The incident struck Dharali village in the Kheer Gad area near Harsil, where heavy rains sent torrents of mud and debris crashing down the mountainside, submerging homes and roads. Local TV footage showed a river of mud engulfing the settlement as residents fled for safety.

“A massive mudslide struck Dharali village, triggering a sudden flow of debris and water through the settlement,” the Indian Army’s Central Command said in a post on social media platform X.

Rescue teams from the army and disaster response forces have reached the affected area, and operations were under way to locate and assist people trapped beneath debris, authorities said.

“Four people were killed and many have been rescued so far,” Uttarkashi district administrator Prashant Arya told local media.

The Uttarakhand chief minister’s office shared a video update showing the scale of damage, with buildings buried and muddy torrents cutting through the village.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to those affected, adding that every effort was being made to support rescue and relief operations.

Uttarakhand, a mountainous state bordering China and Nepal, is prone to flash floods and landslides, hazards that climate experts increasingly link to global warming.

In 2021, flash floods in the state killed more than 200 people and swept away two hydroelectric power stations.

The Indian Himalayas are home to around 10,000 glaciers, many of which are rapidly retreating due to rising temperatures, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods and landslides.

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