Chamoli, Uttarakhand — A devastating cloudburst struck the Nandanagar region of Chamoli district on Thursday, triggering heavy rainfall that buried multiple homes under mounds of debris and mud.
The calamity has left one person confirmed dead and several others missing, sparking a massive search-and-rescue operation by district authorities and disaster relief teams.
According to officials, twelve people were initially reported missing in the morning. After hours of relentless efforts, rescue teams recovered the body of one victim, while two others were pulled out alive from the debris.
The identity of the deceased is yet to be confirmed. The search for the remaining missing persons continues, with teams working against time and harsh conditions.
The fresh disaster comes just two days after a deadly cloudburst in Dehradun and adjoining districts claimed 23 lives, highlighting the recurring vulnerability of Uttarakhand’s mountainous terrain to extreme weather events.
Disaster Response in Full Swing
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), and local administration rushed to the affected zones.
SDRF units reached Nandprayag, where debris had blocked key roads, while an NDRF contingent left from Gauchar to assist ongoing operations.
Heavy machinery, including JCB excavators, has been deployed to clear roads and restore access.
Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed that 10–12 houses had been completely flattened, though the actual number could be higher.
Several shops were also damaged. “Relief centers have been identified, and evacuation is underway. We expect rescue and relief teams to reach every affected pocket within the next 30–45 minutes,” Tiwari assured.
Lives Lost and Missing Persons
Among the missing, eight people belong to Kuntari Lagafali village, including:
- Kunwar Singh (42), his wife Kanta Devi (38), and their sons Vikas and Vishal (10)
- Narendra Singh (40)
- Jagdamba Prasad (70)
- Bhaga Devi (6)
- Deveshwari Devi (65)
In Dhurma village, two others remain untraceable — Guman Singh (75) and Mamta Devi (38).
Meanwhile, three survivors — two women and a child — were successfully rescued by joint teams of the police, DDRF, and revenue officials.
Around 150–200 villagers have been evacuated to safer zones, while the injured were admitted to the Community Health Centre in Nandanagar for urgent medical care.
Chief Minister’s Response
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep concern and assured the public that the administration was acting swiftly. “Local administration, SDRF, and police teams are working tirelessly on the ground. I am personally monitoring the situation and praying for the safety of all affected families,” he wrote in a post on X.
A State Under Repeated Siege by Nature
The Chamoli disaster adds to Uttarakhand’s growing list of tragedies this monsoon season. On Tuesday, the State Disaster Management Authority reported that 23 lives were lost after a cloudburst-triggered landslide and flash floods across Dehradun, Pithoragarh, and Nainital districts.
As torrential rains continue to pound the fragile Himalayan region, questions over preparedness, resilience, and the human cost of natural calamities remain more pressing than ever.
For now, the priority remains clear: saving lives, reuniting families, and bringing relief to those who have lost everything overnight.
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