Heavy rain and cloudbursts have struck Uttarakhand yet again: this time in parts of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, and Tehri, prompting an urgent response from the state administration.
The cloudbursts occurred in Bareth Dungar Tok (Buskedar tehsil, Rudraprayag) and Deval (Chamoli district) from late Thursday into Friday morning.
At least two people are missing in Chamoli, with a lot of livestock buried under debris. One woman has died in Rudraprayag, and several people are missing across affected villages.
As soon as information about the cloudbursts emerged, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to the district magistrates of the affected districts and issued immediate instructions to accelerate relief and rescue operations.
He stressed that there must be no delay in moving affected residents to safety and instructed that basic facilities—including road, electricity, and drinking water supplies—be restored without hesitation.
At a high-level disaster management meeting at his residence, Dhami underscored the importance of keeping the administration on high alert throughout the monsoon season. He assured that all necessary resources and compensation would be swiftly provided to affected families.
The Basukedaar area of Rudraprayag district witnessed extensive damage due to debris flows resulting from a cloudburst.
The district administration has mobilised district-level officers and coordinated operations from the Disaster Control Room. Teams from the National Highway Authority of India, the Public Works Department, and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana are working to clear blocked routes, while rescue teams are being sent via alternative paths to reach isolated villages.
Immediate action teams, including the National and State Disaster Relief Forces, local police, and revenue officials are onsite, striving to evacuate and assist victims.
A breakdown of the ground level impact of the disaster, as issued by the government, is as follows:
1) Syur: One house damaged; a vehicle washed away.
2) Badeth, Bagaddhar, Taljamani: Water and debris have engulfed streams on both sides of villages.
3) Kimana: Large boulders and debris compromising farmland and roads.
4) Arkhund: Fish pond and poultry farm destroyed.
5) Chhenagad (market area): Market filled with debris; vehicles lost.
6) Chhenagad Dugar, Joula Badeth: Missing persons reported; search efforts are underway.
Current situation
On Friday morning, authorities issued a red alert for the next few hours, warning of extremely heavy rainfall in areas of Champawat, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar, including Devidura, Sawal, Manch, Tanakpur, Banbas, Khatima, and Pancheshwar and their surroundings.
Meanwhile, the Alaknanda River at Srinagar in Pauri Garhwal is flowing above its normal level and continues to rise, posing an additional threat to settlements along its banks.