Cloudburst in Chamoli: 1 Dead, Homes and Cars Buried in Debris

A cloudburst hit Chamoli district in Uttarakhand on Friday night, killing one person and leaving another missing. The sudden downpour caused heavy debris to sweep through homes and buildings, creating chaos in the area. Officials reported that the Tharali market and the Tharali tehsil office were badly affected, while several residential areas, the SDM’s official house, shops, and vehicles were buried under the debris.

Panic in Nearby Village

In Sagwara village, reports said that a young girl got trapped under the rubble inside a building, which created fear among locals. People rushed out of their homes while emergency rescue work began. Some shops in Chepdon market were also damaged.

Roads Blocked, Traffic Disrupted

The Tharali-Gwaldam road and the Tharali-Sagwara road have been blocked due to debris and heavy rainfall, causing major disruption to traffic. Videos from the area showed houses filled with mud, rubble, and knee-deep water. Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said that many houses, including the SDM’s residence, have been badly damaged and the losses could be very high.

Rescue Efforts in Full Swing

Officials stated that NDRF and SDRF teams have been actively engaged in rescue operations at the site since last night. Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash said the roadblock has created problems for locals, but relief work is ongoing and temporary camps have been set up. The Indian Army has also joined the rescue efforts with medical teams, search dogs, and HADR units from Rudraprayag and Joshimath. Extra troops and resources are being mobilised for joint operations with the local administration. Many families have been shifted to safe areas by the police, who acted quickly overnight to evacuate people.

Chief Minister Monitoring the Situation

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he is keeping a close watch on the situation. He informed us that the district administration, SDRF, and police teams are already on the spot carrying out rescue and relief work. He also wished for the safety and well-being of all those affected. Uttarakhand has been witnessing heavy rainfall this season, along with cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. Earlier this month, a cloudburst in Harsil and Dharali caused flash floods, resulting in several people going missing and significant damage to infrastructure. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an orange alert for Uttarakhand, cautioning about intense rainfall until August 25. According to the forecast, heavy showers are expected in Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and Dehradun on August 23; in Dehradun, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh on August 24; and across Garhwal Hills, along with Nainital, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh on August 25.