New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- Video grabs of a downhill flash flood that swept away much of Dharali village in Uttarakhand made jaws drop on Tuesday.

An enormous barrage of water slammed into the river-gorge settlement shortly after a cloud burst over the higher reaches of Uttarkashi district.

Also read: Climate change is shrinking India's weather forecast window, says IMD chief

Rescue and relief work is on. Tragic as this is, it's only a harsher version of what hill states have been suffering with startling frequency.

Brick-and-mortar overbuilding with scant regard for safety has driven up risks.

Just a few days ago, India's Supreme Court warned that Himachal Pradesh may "vanish in thin air" if we don't stop meddling with its ecological bala...