The catastrophic flash flood and landslide that struck Dharali village in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, onAugust 5, 2025, highlight the Himalayan region’s escalating vulnerability to climate-induced disasters.This paper examines the interplay of climate change, global warming, deforestation, riverbankencroachment, and socioeconomic factors as drivers of the Dharali disaster, contextualized within a 40-year analysis of Himalayan disasters (1981–2020), with a specific focus on Uttarkashi’s history of crises,including the 1991 earthquake, 2003 Varunavat landslide, 2010–11 road disruptions, 2013 Asigangaflood, 2019 flash floods, and 2025 Dharali disaster. Utilizing ERA5 reanalysis data, Uttarakhand StateDisaster Management Authority (USDMA) records, and local narratives, we analyze precipitation,temperature, and land-use trends over 30 years (1991–2020). Economic losses, religious disruptions,social disparities, and cultural heritage impacts are assessed, with emphasis on women and the Bhotiyacommunity. Comparative analysis with Uttarkashi’s historical disasters reveals systemic governancefailures. Robust recommendations for building resilience are proposed, including eco-sensitive zoneenforcement, climate-resilient infrastructure, and community-driven preparedness, to balanceUttarkashi’s growth with environmental and social sustainability. This study aims to guidepolicymakers toward building a sustainable future for Uttarakhand’s fragile Himalayas.
Bouddha et al. (Sun,) studied this question.