On August 5, 2025, Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand experienced fatal flash floods triggered by torrential rainfall in the region. The floods washed away many residential buildings, hotels, and shops in the district. Following this incident, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released comparative satellite images captured by ISRO’s Cartosat-2S satellite. These images show the damage caused by the recent flash floods and how this place used to look in 2024. Read on to know more.
ISRO’s Satellite Images Reveal Devastating Destruction In Uttarkashi
As per India Today, the satellite images taken by ISRO’s Cartosat-2S satellite show the aftermath of the recent Uttarkashi flash floods. It compares recent event with cloud-free images from June 13, 2024. The images are important as they help the rescue team and authorities to carry out rescue operations in the affected areas.
The key finding in ISRO’s images is that rivers have widened and have changed their direction. The shape of steam channels and riverbeds has also been altered significantly, which can lead to excessive water flow.
Also Read: Monsoon Fury In North India: Uttarakhand Village Wiped Out In Seconds, Flood Warnings In UP
How Flash Flood Affected Dharali Village?
It has also been noticed that the Bhagirathi and Kheer Gad rivers are moving on different routes now. Major destruction due to the flash floods was noted in Dharali village. The quaint hamlet is the meeting point of two rivers. The ISRO images showed that an immense fan-shaped deposit of sediment and debris covered over 20 hectares.
Many buildings in this village were washed away due to the sudden water flow. In some areas, buildings are still buried under flash flood debris or are missing. This intense flood in Uttarkashi has also caused major harm to infrastructure, roads, and orchards.
The satellite images are guiding the rescue team as well. India Today has mentioned that the teams are using these images to understand where the buildings were and to check if people are trapped in that area. Also, with these images, authorities plan to repair and bring back the buildings to their original conditions.
This tragic incident showed how exposed villages in the Himalayan areas are to natural disasters. As per experts, this flash flood could have been caused by glacier collapse or intense rainfall. Hopefully, the government will implement necessary safety measures to protect these villages from future incidents.
We hope for the swift recovery of the flood victims.
Cover Image Courtesy: X (formerly Twitter)/ INKOSHI
