Uttarakhand cloudburst: Families trapped, rivers swell as rescue teams race against time
Dehradun: Cloudbursts hit Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts of Uttarakhand early Friday, causing landslides that left multiple people injured and several missing. In Mopata village of Chamoli, a house and cowshed were buried under debris, trapping a couple, while another couple was rescued injured, said Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari.
In Rudraprayag, incessant rainfall and landslides in the Basukedaar area damaged more than half a dozen villages. Dungar village of Chenagadh and Jaula-Bhadeth reported missing persons in landslide debris and floods. In Syur village, a house was damaged and a car swept away, while ravines near Badeth, Bagaddhar and Taljamani villages experienced flooding.
Roads and highways submerged
The Badrinath highway between Srinagar and Rudraprayag has been completely submerged by the Alaknanda River, halting all traffic. Senior Superintendent of Police Pauri, Lokeshwar Singh, said, "Traffic has been stopped at safe places. Arrangements are being made to send the pilgrims forward through alternative routes."
The District Administration confirmed extensive damage in Badeth Dungar Tok area, with one house damaged, a vehicle washed away in Syur, agricultural land covered by debris in Kimana, a fish pond and poultry farm destroyed in Arkhund, and the Chenagad market area affected by debris.
Relief and rescue operations
Relief and rescue efforts are underway on a war footing. District Magistrates Prateek Jain (Rudraprayag) and Sandeep Tiwari (Chamoli) are coordinating operations with NDRF, SDRF, police, revenue officials and local volunteers. Roads leading to Dewal and Basukedaar areas are being cleared, and affected residents are being evacuated to safer locations.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on X, "Relief and rescue work is going on on a war footing by the local administration, I am constantly in touch with the officials in this regard. I have spoken to the Disaster Secretary and District Magistrates and given necessary instructions for effective conduct of rescue operations."
Warnings issued
Police in Chamoli and Rudraprayag issued urgent advisories as river water levels rose sharply. Chamoli Police warned residents near riverbanks to "move to safer locations," while Rudraprayag Police urged people to stay away from the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers to avoid flood-related dangers.
Uttarakhand has been heavily affected by monsoon calamities. A flashflood on August 5 in the Kheer Ganga river earlier this month left 69 people missing, including Army personnel, Nepali nationals, and residents from various states.