Dehradun, Aug 29 (PTI) – Heavy rains and cloudbursts have caused severe disruptions in Uttarakhand early Friday, leading to landslides that have damaged homes and buried many under the rubble in districts like Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Tehri. A house and a cowshed in Mopata village, Chamoli, were submerged under landslide debris, trapping a couple and injuring another, stated Chamoli’s District Magistrate, Sandeep Tiwari. The missing couple was identified as Tara Singh and his wife, while the injured couple was Vikram Singh and his wife.
Incessant rains and landslides in the Basukedaar area of Rudraprayag have severely affected over half a dozen villages, officials report. In Dungar village, Chenagadh, several individuals are reported missing amidst the landslide and flood debris. A similar situation is reported in Jaula-Bhadeth village, with several people missing due to floods.
In Syur village, a house was damaged, and a parked car was swept away by the debris. Additionally, the ravines flanking Badeth, Bagaddhar, and Taljamani villages have flooded.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his concern on X, noting, "Sad news has been received about some families being stranded due to debris from cloudbursts in Badeth Dungar under Tehsil Basukedaar area in Rudraprayag district, and Dewal area in Chamoli district." He assured that relief and rescue operations are ongoing on a war footing by the local administration. "I am in constant contact with officials, and I have spoken to the Disaster Secretary and District Magistrates, issuing necessary instructions for effective rescue efforts," he stated. "I pray to Baba Kedar for everyone's safety," he added.
Additionally, incessant rains and cloudbursts have incurred substantial losses in the Budha Kedar area of Tehri district, burying livestock shelters and temples under debris. In Genwali village, locals reported landslides affecting a toilet and the courtyard of a house. The irrigation department’s security wall, constructed post last year's disaster, was also washed away. With continuous rains, the Balganga, Dharmganga, and Bhilangana rivers are swelling, instilling panic among residents. Potato fields have also been ruined, confirmed former Genwali village head, Kirti Singh Rana, although no casualties have been reported. Rising water levels in Alaknanda and its tributaries, along with the Mandakini river, have prompted police to alert riverside inhabitants through announcements.
The Badrinath national highway has faced blockages due to debris at multiple locations, including Chamoli - Nandprayag, Kameda, Bhanerpani, Pagalnala, Jilasoo, Gulabkoti, and Chatwapipal. In Rudraprayag, the Badrinath highway remains closed at Sirobgadh while Kedarnath Highway is obstructed at four points between Banswara (Syalsaur) and Kund to Chopta. Administration teams are actively working to clear these routes. Pilgrims are advised to verify road conditions and follow the guidelines set by the police and administration before commencing their journeys.
Uttarakhand has been significantly affected by monsoon-season natural disasters. Earlier this month, on August 5, a devastating flash flood in the Kheer Ganga river obliterated nearly half of Dharali—a crucial stopover on the way to Gangotri—destroying many hotels and homestays, and impacting neighboring Harsil, where an Army camp felt the brunt of the flood's intensity. Sixty-nine people were reported missing, including nine Army personnel, 25 Nepali nationals, 13 from Bihar, six from Uttar Pradesh, eight from Dharali, five from areas near Uttarkashi, two from Tehri, and one from Rajasthan.
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