NEW DELHI: A cloudburst in the early hours of Saturday in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district triggered flash floods and landslides, leaving several houses and vehicles buried under debris. Officials reported that a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kavita, is feared trapped under the rubble, while another person, Joshi, has been reported missing.
Rescue operations are underway, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed to the affected areas. “The road has been blocked due to flash floods, causing major disruptions. Relief camps have been set up, and the district magistrate is on-site to oversee operations,” said Chamoli Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash.
IMD Issues Orange Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and “very intense” rainfall across multiple districts, including Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Nainital, and Almora. The alert remains in place until Saturday afternoon.
In Pithoragarh district, landslides have led to the closure of the Thal–Munsyari and Munsyari–Milam roads. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious, especially in areas prone to landslides and heavy rainfall.
Rain-Related Incidents Across the State
Earlier this week, two people were killed when debris from a hillside struck the Gangotri Highway near Dabrani in Uttarkashi district. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences on social media, calling the deaths “extremely sad news.”
Rescue teams are also working to drain a newly formed lake in the Harsil area, created due to heavy rainfall and landslides. In Barkot tehsil, the Yamuna River has been blocked by debris at Syanchatti, causing water to overflow into nearby residential areas.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as rainfall persists across the state.
