Uttarakhand: At least 10 people remain missing after a catastrophic cloudburst struck Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district late Wednesday night, destroying six buildings and prompting emergency rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Rescue Operations Underway amid Uttarakhand Mayhem
The cloudburst occurred in Nanda Nagar, where torrential rains triggered heavy debris flows that reduced multiple structures to rubble. While rescue teams successfully extracted two people from the wreckage, search operations continue under challenging conditions. Medical teams and three ambulances have been dispatched to the affected area to support ongoing rescue efforts.
Among the 10 missing individuals, six were reported from Kuntri Laga Phali village, two from Sarpani, and two from Dhurma. The victim’s range in age from two 10-year-old boys to a 75-year-old resident, highlighting the disaster’s impact across age groups. Local residents report several people remain trapped in their homes due to debris accumulation.
Adverse weather conditions are significantly hampering rescue operations, with the meteorological department forecasting continued heavy rainfall in Chamoli district. The ongoing precipitation threatens to complicate search efforts and potentially trigger additional landslides.
State-Wide Crisis in Uttarakhand
This incident follows another devastating cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun just four days earlier, which killed 13 people, washed away roads, damaged homes and shops, and collapsed two major bridges, severing crucial transportation routes.
The state government has issued red alerts for Dehradun, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall and increased risks of fatalities, landslides, and infrastructure collapse through September 20.
CM Dhami takes the charge
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasized swift restoration efforts, stating: “Our effort is to repair the damaged infrastructure and restore road and power connectivity at the earliest.” He reported that 85 percent of damaged power lines have been restored, with remaining repairs expected within days.
Regional Impact
Beyond Uttarakhand, where 15 people remain missing statewide and over 900 are stranded, neighboring Himachal Pradesh has also experienced flash floods and landslides this week, resulting in three additional fatalities from rain-triggered disasters.
The mounting casualties underscore the vulnerability of Himalayan regions to extreme weather events during monsoon seasons.
