Cloudburst in Chamoli: Five People Missing, Six Buildings Destroyed
A devastating cloudburst late Wednesday night struck Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, reducing six buildings to rubble and leaving five people missing. The disaster occurred in Nanda Nagar following torrential rainfall, triggering a massive flow of debris.
Rescue Efforts Amid Harsh Conditions
Emergency teams have been deployed to the affected site. Two people have been rescued from the debris, while search operations continue for those still unaccounted for. A medical team and three ambulances have been rushed to provide assistance, though the rescue mission faces significant challenges due to continuous heavy rainfall. The Meteorological Department has warned of further downpours in the region, worsening the risks of additional landslides and flooding. Locals report that several residents remain trapped inside their homes.
Recent Spate of Cloudbursts in Uttarakhand
This incident comes just four days after a cloudburst in Dehradun killed at least 13 people. That disaster washed away roads, damaged homes and shops, and caused the collapse of two key bridges, disrupting connectivity across the state capital. Currently, 15 people remain missing across Uttarakhand, and more than 900 others are stranded due to heavy rainfall and damaged infrastructure.
Government Response and Restoration Work
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring essential services quickly. “Our effort is to repair the damaged infrastructure and restore road and power connectivity at the earliest,” he stated. According to official reports, nearly 85 percent of damaged power lines have already been repaired, with full restoration expected within the next two days.
Wider Impact Across the Himalayan Region
The relentless rains have also taken a toll beyond Uttarakhand. Neighboring Himachal Pradesh has reported flash floods and landslides this week, resulting in three deaths. Both states are grappling with continuous rainfall that has triggered severe disasters in fragile hilly terrains, underlining the growing vulnerability of Himalayan regions to extreme weather events.
Red Alert Across Multiple Districts
The Uttarakhand government has issued a red alert for Dehradun, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar, warning of extremely heavy rain until September 20. Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant, as the risk of landslides, floods, and infrastructure collapse remains extremely high.
