By Mongabay.com On Aug. 5, a flash flood devastated much of the Himalayan village of Dharali in India’s Uttarakhand state. As of Aug. 17, six people were confirmed dead, while 60-70 people remained missing.

This year's pattern shows a striking contrast indicating that seasonal rainfall in the 'normal' category may not always signal safety

The flash floods, triggered by a cloudburst, swept through the village of Dharali, a popular tourist destination dotted with hotels and restaurants.

The flood buried half of Dharali village, built on a dried river course, and washed away an Army camp in Harshil. Six people have been declared dead and 69 remain missing. The report recommended further puncturing of the lakes formed after the landslides to safely release water and reduce the risk downstream.

At least four people died and more than 50 people were missing after a flash flood washed away a village in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand on Tuesday.

A flash flood swept through a village in the Himalayas in northern India on Tuesday. At least 50 people are missing and four are dead, with the toll expected to rise. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told a local news outlet at least 190 people have been rescued. “The disaster has completely hit the entire Dharali,” said Dhami.

A cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Dharali has triggered devastating flash floods, leading to at least four confirmed deaths and over 50 missing persons, sweeping away homes, roads and hotels

A temporary lake near Harsil, formed after the Dharali flash flood, poses a threat to downstream areas. Authorities are working to drain the lake safe