ISRO assesses damage due to flash flood in Uttarkashi’s Dharali

Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) has carried out a rapid assessment of the damage in Uttarkashi’s Dharali in Uttarakhand that occurred on August 5.

A catastrophic flash flood, triggered by intense rainfall, caused debris-laden flows over Dharali and Harsil, and swept away homes, buildings, bridges, roads, and claimed human lives.

The NRSC used high-resolution satellite images of India’s Cartosat-2S satellites, which revealed the extent and severity of the destruction.

The findings include indications of flash flood, with widened stream channels, altered river morphology and damage to human lives and infrastructure. The images show that a number of buildings appear to be submerged with mud/debris in Dharali village.

“Fan-shaped deposit of sediment & debris at Dharali village (Rs 20ha area, Rs 750m X Rs 450m), at the confluence of the Kheer Gad & Bhagirathi River. Partial/complete destruction and disappearance of several buildings in the flood-affected zone, likely submerged or swept away by the intense mud flow and debris,” NRSC said.

The ISRO in a statement said that the satellite images would help the ongoing search and rescue operations to reach out to stranded individuals and restore connectivity to the isolated region.

“The event highlights the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan. Scientific analysis is being carried out to ascertain the cause of the triggering event at Dharali village,” ISRO said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has denied the occurrence of a cloudburst. Uttarkashi received only 27 mm of rain on the day of devastation which, IMD said, is too little for a cloudburst or a flash flood of such devastating intensity.