Satellite images show sediment deposits, missing buildings post Uttarkashi floods (PICS)

Uttarkashi: The Indian space agency has reported large-scale damage in Dharali village, Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, following the August 5 flash floods, with satellite images showing fan-shaped deposits of sediments and debris, and partial or complete destruction of several buildings.

The scientific assessment, conducted jointly by ISRO and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) using very high-resolution images from the Cartosat-2S satellite, compared post-event data from August 7, with pre-event cloud-free imagery from June 13, 2024.

The analysis revealed a 20-hectare fan-shaped deposit at the confluence of the Kheer Gad and Bhagirathi rivers. Several structures in the flood-hit zone were either submerged, swept away, or buried under mud and debris.

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Satellite Insights Aiding Rescue & Relief Ops

ISRO/NRSC used Cartosat-2S data to assess the devastating Aug 5 flash flood in Dharali & Harsil, Uttarakhand.

High-res imagery reveals submerged buildings, debris spread (~20ha), & altered river paths, vital for rescue teams on… pic.twitter.com/ZK0u50NnYF

— ISRO (@isro) August 7, 2025 >

The catastrophic flash flood, triggered by intense rainfall also impacted Harsil village, altering river morphology, widening stream channels, and causing extensive damage to infrastructure and human lives.

ISRO noted that the satellite imagery will aid ongoing search and rescue operations and help restore connectivity to the isolated region.

ISRO noted that the satellite imagery will aid ongoing search and rescue operations and help restore connectivity to the isolated region.

The incident highlights the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan settlements to extreme weather events.

Scientific analysis to determine the exact cause of the trigger is underway, ISRO said.

Yesterday, Suhora Technologies, an Earth observation and space data analytics firm, categorically ruled out any glacial burst as the reason for the flash floods. It ruled in cloud burst as the probable reason.