A video showing a group of men using ropes to rescue youths stranded in the middle of a raging river is being widely shared on social media platforms, with several users linking it to the recent flash floods in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district following a cloudburst on Tuesday (August 5, 2025).
Multiple X, Facebook and YouTube users shared the over-two-minute-long-footage with a Hindi text overlay reading, “New video of Dharali village.”
Newschecker’s investigation, however, revealed that the video was not related to the recent Uttarkashi cloudburst.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Viral Image Showing Aftermath Of Uttarkashi Cloudburst Is AI Generated
Rescue & Relief Work In Uttarkashi
The NDRF, SDRF, Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police and other related agencies are involved in the relief and rescue work in Uttarkashi district hit by flash floods. The teams rescued 190 people from Dharali on Wednesday (August 6, 2025) and around 65 others have been airlifted to Matli so far on Thursday (August 7, 2025). Visuals from the rescue operations can be seen here, here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
A reverse image search on the keyframes of the viral clip led us to a report by The Indian Express, dated July 29, 2022, detailing an incident in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan where five youths were rescued by locals after they were trapped in the river in Nalagarh. The report featured snippets of the viral footage, confirming that it was unrelated to the recent calamity in Uttarkashi.
Another report by The Tribune, published on July 29, 2022, also carried visuals showing the same incident, corroborated that it shows the rescue of the youths who were stuck in a river in Solan’s Nalagarh, adding that they had gone into the river to take photos.
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Detailing the effects of incessant rainfall across states, an Aaj Tak report from July 2022, too, featured the snippets from the now viral footage to show locals rescuing youths stuck in a river in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan.
The Uttarakhand Police also flagged the viral clip, clarifying that it was unrelated to the recent disaster in Dharali.
Conclusion
Hence, we find that the viral posts, claiming to show the rescue of men stranded in a river in Dharali following the recent cloudburst, are false.
Sources
YouTube Video By The Indian Express, Dated July 29, 2022
YouTube Video By The Tribune, Dated July 29, 2022
YouTube Video By Aaj Tak, Dated July 30, 2022
X Post By Uttarakhand Police, Dated August 6, 2025
