In Chamoli district, a cloudburst caused significant damage, burying around six houses under debris and mud in the Kuntari Lagafali ward of Nagar Panchayat Nandanagar on Thursday, according to officials. An NDRF representative reported that six buildings have collapsed, raising concerns that 10 individuals, including women and children, may be trapped. Emergency teams from NDRF, SDRF, and the district administration have been deployed for search and relief operations, with medical teams dispatched to the area, including one from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). “3 x 108 ambulances have been sent to assist in rescue efforts,” the official stated.
The Chamoli District Management Committee (DMC) noted that the administration is actively monitoring the situation as rescue operations are underway following this natural disaster in Uttarakhand. There is widespread panic among the residents, and fears persist that more individuals may be trapped beneath the rubble. Of the 10 people reported missing, eight hail from Kuntari Lagafali, including Kunwar Singh (42), Kanta Devi (38), their two sons Vikas and Vishal (10), Narendra Singh (40), Jagdamba Prasad (70), Bhaga Devi (6), and Deveshwari Devi (65). Additionally, two individuals from Dhurma village, Guman Singh (75) and Mamta Devi (38), are also among the missing.
The cloudburst resulted in flash floods and landslides, following recent heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand, which had already caused destruction in Dehradun, Nainital, and Pithoragarh, claiming 15 lives, leaving 16 missing, and stranding nearly 900 people. Continued heavy rains in Chamoli have exacerbated the situation, with rising water levels in various drains leading to overflow. Notably, the Tons (Tamsa) River has flooded the renowned Tapkeshwar Temple in Dehradun.