Chamoli: A powerful cloudburst late Wednesday night wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, leaving at least seven people missing and reducing six houses to rubble in Nanda Nagar. The sudden downpour triggered a heavy flow of debris, causing widespread damage and panic among residents.
Rescue operations are underway with teams from the SDRF, NDRF, and the Public Works Department deployed to the site. JCB machines and other equipment have been pressed into service to clear debris. Officials confirmed that two people were rescued alive, while efforts to locate the missing continue under challenging conditions of relentless rain and treacherous terrain. A medical team, along with three ambulances, has also been rushed to the area.
The weather department has warned of more heavy rainfall in Chamoli over the coming days, heightening concerns of additional landslides and structural collapses. Locals fear several residents may still be trapped in their homes.
This disaster follows just four days after a devastating cloudburst in Dehradun’s Sahastradhara, which killed at least 13 people, swept away roads, damaged shops and homes, and destroyed two major bridges. The Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Dehradun also suffered severe damage when the swollen Tamsa River flooded its premises, submerging the Shivling and leaving deep cracks in the walls.
In light of the worsening weather, the Uttarakhand government has issued a red alert across Dehradun, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Pithoragarh, and Chamoli, warning residents of extremely heavy rainfall, potential landslides, infrastructure collapse, and rising casualties through September 20.
