Uttarakhand: Fresh cloudbursts batter Chamoli and Rudraprayag, rescue underway

Severe fresh cloudbursts have wreaked havoc across Uttarakhand, leaving two people missing and numerous animals feared trapped under debris, officials reported on Friday.

In Chamoli district’s Dewal tehsil, a cloudburst struck Mopata village, injuring Vikram Singh and his wife, while Tara Singh and his wife remain missing. A cowshed collapsed under the deluge, potentially burying 15 to 20 cattle. Heavy rains have forced road closures across the district, hampering rescue operations.

The situation has also deteriorated in Rudraprayag district, where a cloudburst at Badeth Dungar Tok in the Basukedar area stranded several families. Authorities launched immediate relief and evacuation efforts, moving residents to safer locations. The Alaknanda River has crossed the danger mark, inundating residential areas, while the Mandakini River is rising rapidly, evoking memories of the 2013 floods.

Infrastructure damage has been severe. The Hanuman temple is now submerged, and the motorway bridge at Lavara village, Kedarghati, has been washed away. Four houses were swept away in Basukedar, though all occupants were safely evacuated, according to District Magistrate Prateek Jain.

Once again, heavy rains have disrupted life in #Uttarakhand. Reports of massive damage from several areas of #Rudraprayag & #Chamoli district after last night’s downpour — fields washed away, roads covered with debris, vehicles damaged, and houses in villages buried under rubble. pic.twitter.com/FajMPYSqYt

— Prof (Dr) S C THALEDI (@tcs61669096) August 29, 2025

आपदा परिचालन केंद्र चमोली की ओर से देवाल विकासखंड के मोपाटा में आई आपदा से हुए नुकसान की दी विस्तृत जानकारी। #Dewal#DisasterUpdate #ChamoliNews #uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/W9VJGexBfR

— DIPR Chamoli_Badrinath (@DIOChamoli) August 29, 2025

Red alert for flash floods in Uttarakhand, Himachal, other Himalayan states

चमोली जनपद में लगातार बारिश से बदरीनाथ हाईवे कई स्थानों पर अवरुद्ध है।
📍 नंदप्रयाग
📍 कमेड़ा
📍 भनेरपानी
📍 पागलनाला
📍 जिलासू के समीप
📍 गुलाबकोटी
📍 चटवापीपल

सभी स्थानों पर राजमार्ग को सुचारु करने के प्रयास किए जा रहे हैं। #BadrinathHighway #HighwayUpdate #ChamoliNews pic.twitter.com/M9KwjCjGPE

— DIPR Chamoli_Badrinath (@DIOChamoli) August 29, 2025

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to social media to confirm that many people have been affected in Chamoli and Rudraprayag and directed the Disaster Secretary and District Magistrates to accelerate relief and rescue efforts.

Schools and anganwadi centres in Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Haridwar and Pithoragarh districts have been closed for the day. District Magistrates of Haridwar and Pithoragarh declared holidays on 29 August 2025 due to safety concerns.

Landslides have blocked the Malari National Highway in Chamoli, isolating more than a dozen villages. Authorities have deployed machinery to clear the route and restore connectivity.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Dehradun, Nainital, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts, with a yellow alert for the remaining areas. Heavy rains are expected at isolated locations across the state over the next 48 hours.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant as authorities continue to monitor river levels and carry out relief operations in affected regions.