The unprecedented natural disaster struck in the early hours of the day, overwhelming the village's defenses and sweeping away everything in its path. The most affected areas include residential buildings, local shops, and key road networks that have been rendered impassable. As of now, local authorities are focusing on locating those feared trapped under debris, including several labourers who were working on construction projects in the area.
Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed along with teams from the Indian Army, with both groups focusing on rescuing survivors and searching for the missing. The operation is particularly challenging due to the difficult terrain and the ongoing heavy rainfall that continues to affect the region.
The cloudburst has also severely impacted the accessibility to vital services, with roads washed away and communication lines disrupted. Emergency supplies and personnel are being airlifted to the affected areas, as road travel is nearly impossible. Local authorities have called for the evacuation of nearby areas that are at risk of further flash floods.
The Meteorological Department of India issued a warning for continued heavy rainfall in the region, specifically in the hilly areas, until August 10. The persistent downpour has heightened concerns that other regions could be affected, with the risk of additional cloudbursts and flash floods still very much present.
In Dharali, the response from rescue teams has been swift, but the scale of the disaster remains overwhelming. Local residents, who are now sheltering in temporary relief camps, report that the destruction was so sudden and swift that they had little time to react. Many homes were destroyed within moments of the cloudburst, leaving little behind.