A cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday night has resulted in widespread destruction and has left several people feared missing. The severe weather event caused debris to sweep through homes and market areas, causing significant damage.
The Tharali market area, vehicles, and residential zones have been heavily impacted by the deluge of debris. Some shops have been damaged, and a young woman has been reported buried under the debris inside a building in Sagwara village, prompting immediate rescue operations. The Tharali-Gwaldam and Tharali-Sagwara roads have been shut down due to the disaster.
Chamoli Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash stated that the flash floods have caused a lot of damage. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were mobilized to the affected areas. Relief camps have been set up to assist those displaced by the cloudburst, and the District Magistrate is on site to oversee relief efforts.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, and very intense rainfall across several districts, including Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Nainital, and Almora. Residents in Pithoragarh have been asked to stay alert for potential landslides, leading to the closure of schools.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has stated that the district administration, SDRF, and police are conducting relief and rescue operations. He added that he is closely monitoring the situation and praying for everyone's safety. The district administration has declared a holiday for all schools and Anganwadi centers up to Class 12th in Tharali tehsil.
The cloudburst in Chamoli follows recent instances of extreme weather events in Uttarakhand. Just weeks prior, a cloudburst in Uttarkashi district triggered a flash flood. In response to these increasing incidents, authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, especially in areas prone to rain and landslides. Rescue agencies are also working to drain a newly formed lake in the Harsil area, while heavy rainfall and debris have blocked the Yamuna River at Syanchatti in Barkot tehsil, causing water to back up into residential areas.
