Chamoli, Uttarakhand (August 23): Several people are feared missing after a cloudburst hit Chamoli district’s Tharali tehsil late on Friday night, triggering massive debris flow that buried homes, shops, vehicles, and government buildings.
According to officials, the Tharali market area and the tehsil complex, including the official residence of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), were completely covered in debris. In Sagwara village, a girl was reportedly trapped under the rubble of a building, sparking panic among locals.
Rescue efforts are underway with NDRF, SDRF, and Indian Army teams on the ground. The Army said its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) columns, medical units, and search-and-rescue dogs have been deployed from Rudraprayag and Joshimath, with additional resources being mobilised.
Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed large-scale damage, while Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash said relief camps have been set up for affected families. Police teams also evacuated residents overnight from vulnerable areas.
Traffic movement has been severely affected as the Tharali-Gwaldam and Tharali-Sagwara roads remain blocked due to debris and heavy rainfall. Shops in Chepdon market were also damaged.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he is in constant touch with the district administration. “I am closely monitoring the situation and pray for everyone’s safety,” he wrote in a post on X.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for very heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand until August 25, warning of further risks of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. Heavy showers are expected in Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Nainital, Dehradun, Tehri, and Uttarkashi over the next three days.
Uttarakhand has already witnessed multiple extreme weather events this monsoon, including recent cloudbursts in Harsil and Dharali, which caused flash floods and infrastructure damage.
