A cloudburst struck Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, late Friday night, triggering flash floods and landslides. Debris swept through homes, shops, and vehicles, leaving many feared missing. The Tharali market and tehsil complex were buried under rubble. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s residence was also heavily damaged.
In Sagwara village, a 20-year-old woman, Kavita, was trapped under debris. Another person, Joshi, remains missing from the Chepdon market area. The Karnaprayag-Gwaldam National Highway, Tharali-Sagwara road, and Dungri road are closed due to debris and heavy rainfall. Schools in three development blocks were shut on Saturday.
Rescue operations began immediately. NDRF and SDRF teams reached the site Friday night. The Indian Army deployed HADR columns, medical teams, and search dogs from Rudraprayag and Joshimath. Relief camps are now operational, with the district administration providing aid. “The road is blocked, and people face many problems,” said Chamoli ADM Vivek Prakash.
The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, and intense rain in districts like Dehradun, Tehri, and Chamoli until Saturday afternoon. In Pithoragarh, landslides closed the Thal-Munsyari and Munsyari-Milam roads. Police urged residents to stay vigilant.
Earlier, on Wednesday, two people died when debris hit the Gangotri Highway in Uttarkashi’s Dabrani area. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called it “extremely sad news” on X. Rescue teams are also draining a newly formed lake in Harsil.
