India, Aug. 11 -- A water body resembling a lake, stretching over a kilometre, has formed on the Bhagirathi river near Harsil after the August 5 cloudburst in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, prompting authorities to launch urgent drainage operations.

The move comes amid continued heavy rainfall in the region, with officials working to mitigate potential risks from the sudden accumulation of water.

The water body was formed after debris and uprooted trees carried downstream by the floodwaters from Khir Ganga and Tel Gad blocked the river's natural flow. According to locals, the accumulation has also submerged the Harsil helipad.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday evening said the lake needed to be drained to ensure the sa...