Uttarakhand, the mountainous northern state that hosts Dharali, has been devastated by cloudbursts before. A June 2013 cloudburst killed over 6,000 people in Uttarakhand and surrounding states, becoming the country's worst natural disaster in ten years. In 2021, flash flooding triggered by a cloudburst killed over 200.

Officials said at least 60 people have been rescued and moved to safer locations, but adverse weather conditions, damaged roads and rugged terrain were hampering rescue efforts.

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