Uttarakhand is reeling from the impact of fresh cloudbursts and landslides that struck early Friday, leaving a trail of destruction across several districts. At least five people have been confirmed dead, and 11 others are still missing as of Friday, August 29, 2025. The severe weather events, triggered by incessant monsoon rains, have wreaked havoc in Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Bageshwar districts, damaging homes and infrastructure, and burying people under mounds of rubble.
The State Disaster Management Authority has confirmed the extent of the calamity. In Bageshwar district's Kapkot area, the Pausari Gram Panchayat was severely affected, with heavy rains damaging nearly half a dozen houses, resulting in two deaths and three missing individuals. Two bodies have been recovered, and one injured person has been rescued in Bageshwar. The deceased have been identified as Basanti Devi and Bachuli Devi.
In Chamoli district, a landslide buried a house and cowshed in Mopata village, tragically killing a couple and injuring another. Another couple was rescued from the debris in an injured condition. In Rudraprayag district, incessant rain and landslides in the Basukedaar area have caused heavy damage in more than half a dozen villages. There are reports of 30-40 families getting trapped in the debris and floodwaters in Taljaman village of Rudraprayag district. Four locals and four Nepali workers are also reported trapped under debris in the Chenagad area.
Rescue teams are facing difficulties reaching affected areas due to roads broken in multiple locations. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and revenue officials have been deployed across the affected districts to carry out rescue and relief operations. The SDRF has rescued 40 people in the Taljamal area of Rudraprayag and 30 people in Kumm village.
Rising river levels have further exacerbated the situation. The water levels of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers are continuously rising, with the Alaknanda River in Rudraprayag crossing the danger mark, leading to a flood-like situation. River water has entered residential areas, prompting the administration to evacuate homes. A bridge on the motor road was also swept away by strong currents in Kedarnath valley’s Lawara village.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed his concern and is constantly in touch with officials, directing the disaster secretary and district magistrates to ensure relief and rescue operations are carried out on a "war footing". He has also prayed for everyone's safety. The state government has directed officials to provide immediate financial assistance to affected families and restore essential facilities like roads, electricity, and drinking water.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehradun, and Rudraprayag, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours. Authorities have advised residents living near riverbanks to remain vigilant. Several highways, including stretches of the Badrinath and Kedarnath routes, have been blocked due to debris, affecting pilgrim traffic.
Uttarakhand has been particularly vulnerable to natural calamities during this monsoon season. On August 5, a devastating flash flood in the Kheer Ganga River demolished nearly half of Dharali, a key stopover en route to Gangotri, and neighboring Harsil.
