Attachments
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At approximately 01:45 PM on 5th August 2025, a catastrophic flash flood triggered by intense rainfall struck Dharali, Harsil, Purali, Bhagori, Sukkhi, Mukwa, Jaspur, and Jhala villages in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, causing debris-laden flows that swept away homes, buildings, bridges, and roads, and tragically claimed human lives.
An Inter-Agency Coordination (IAC) Emergency Meeting was convened on 6th August 2025, and the Minutes of Meeting were released the same day. The URS was activated on 7th August 2025, with Sphere India and IAG Uttarkashi closely monitoring the evolving situation. However, due to blocked roads, the formation of a temporary lake, and continuous heavy rainfall, it was deemed unsafe for volunteers and experts to travel to the impacted villages, leading to a necessary delay in the field assessment.
On 15th August 2025, the IAG Convener and Sphere India met with the District Magistrate and ADM Uttarkashi, where it was agreed that the Inter-Agency Group would support the district administration in conducting a needs assessment. This collaboration aimed to identify the urgent requirements of the affected communities and to guide relief planning and response efforts.
This report is a collaborative effort involving Uttarkashi Jan Hiteshi Manch, Shri Kedar Jan Vikas Samiti Dunda Uttarkashi, Shrishti Sansthan, Mahila Uthaan evam Gram Vikas Sansthan, ITBP, Donatekart, Sphere India. The assessment was carried out through telephonic interviews with households, direct household interviews conducted by volunteers, and was further supplemented by secondary data from government reports, media sources, and field observations.
The findings presented here highlight the emerging needs of the affected population, with a particular focus on immediate relief measures and strategies to inform the medium- to long-term recovery of the impacted villages.