• At least four reported dead, with about 100 missing after flash floods in Uttarakhand.
• The floods are attributed to a severe "cloudburst" event and heavy monsoon rains.
• The Indian army is actively conducting rescue operations using drones and heavy equipment.
• Experts link increasing flood severity to climate change and urbanization.
• Prime Minister Modi and local officials express condolences and mobilize disaster response.

A devastating flash flood swept through the town of Dharali in India's Uttarakhand state on August 5, resulting in at least four confirmed deaths and approximately 100 people reported missing, including 11 soldiers. Witnesses described a massive wall of muddy water and debris crashing down a narrow mountain valley, demolishing buildings in its path. Videos from the scene showed the terrifying surge of water engulfing structures, prompting officials to declare a "serious situation" as the search for survivors commenced, according to South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, Dawn, and TRT World.

Rescue operations have been intensified with the Indian army deploying sniffer dogs, drones, and heavy earth-moving equipment in an effort to locate the missing individuals. The situation remains critical as torrential rains continue to threaten the area, and officials have reported that all major rivers in Uttarakhand are flowing above danger levels. Uttarakhand State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that teams have been mobilized "on a war footing," emphasizing the urgency of the rescue efforts, as mentioned by Channel News Asia and Dawn.

Experts point out that this tragedy is part of a worrying trend, as climate change and urbanization are exacerbating the frequency and severity of such natural disasters. The India Meteorological Department reported extreme rainfall of up to 270 millimeters (10 inches) within 24 hours in the affected region, characterizing the event as an "extreme situation." Manish Shrestha, an expert from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, highlighted the concentrated impact of such rainfall in mountainous areas, calling the floods a "distress signal" of impending climate challenges, according to South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, Dawn, and TRT World.

In the wake of this disaster, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences on social media, assuring that "no stone is being left unturned" in aiding those affected. The local government is closely monitoring the situation as recovery efforts continue, reflecting on both the immediate tragedy and the broader implications of increasingly violent weather patterns influenced by climate change, as reported by South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, Dawn, and TRT World.