Anger is mounting in disaster-hit villages of Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district after the state government handed out ₹5,000 (about $60) in interim compensation to families promised ₹500,000 ($6,000) following last week’s flash floods.
Residents of Dharali and Harsil villages, devastated by a cloudburst and sudden flooding on August 5, say the token amount is too little to rebuild homes or livelihoods lost in the disaster. Many refused to accept the cheques, accusing the administration of downplaying the scale of destruction.
“This money is nothing. We have lost our homes, our land, everything. How can we survive on ₹5,000?” said one Dharali villager, standing amid piles of debris where his house once stood. Local officials said the payment was an “immediate relief measure” while a full damage assessment is conducted. “We are giving ₹5,000 as an interim step. A complete list of losses will be prepared, and proper compensation will be provided,” Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya told reporters.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had announced ₹500,000 each for families whose homes were destroyed, as well as for the kin of those killed in the disaster. A three-member committee has been formed to assess the damage and submit a report within a week.
According to local sources, 35 families in Dharali lost everything in the deluge, which tore through the Harsil Valley, sweeping away houses, farmland, and livestock. Similar devastation was reported in Harsil village. Residents say they have no idea how they will rebuild. The state disaster management authority said 825 people had been rescued from affected areas as of Saturday, though access remains difficult in some locations due to damaged roads and bridges. Relief teams are continuing to distribute food, water, and temporary shelter.
For many villagers, the government’s initial payout has deepened frustration rather than providing solace. “We are not begging. We are only asking for what was promised,” said a resident of Harsil, clutching the uncashed cheque. “Our lives have been washed away – not just our houses.”