A cloudburst struck Chamoli district in Uttarakhand late Wednesday night, leaving five people missing and several houses buried under debris.
The incident took place around 2:30 am in the Kuntri Langafali ward of Nandanagar Nagar Panchayat. Heavy rainfall triggered landslides that destroyed at least six houses. According to the district disaster management centre, seven people were inside the homes when the cloudburst hit. Two were rescued, while five remain unaccounted for.
Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed the scale of destruction. “A cloudburst caused damage in the Nandanagar Ghat area. Six houses were buried under debris. Seven people were trapped, two have been rescued, and five are still missing. Relief and rescue operations are underway,” he said.
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are working at the site. Medical staff and three ambulances have been deployed. Search operations are continuing despite difficult terrain and ongoing rainfall.
Cloudburst Hits Uttarakhand’s Chamoli
Damage has not been limited to Kuntri ward. In Dhurma village, located in the Mokh Valley of Nandanagar, floodwaters from the Mokh river washed away at least six houses. Vehicles and shops were also buried under debris.
The cloudburst has revived fears among residents already living under threat. Just weeks earlier, land subsidence had damaged more than a dozen houses in Kuntri ward. Deep cracks appeared in the walls, forcing 64 residents to move into relief camps.
Officials warned that unstable terrain could worsen the situation if rain continues. The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand, warning of heavy rainfall over the next 20 hours.
Chamoli, a hill district in the Garhwal region, is prone to flash floods and landslides during the monsoon. Its steep slopes and proximity to rivers like the Alaknanda and Mokh make it vulnerable to sudden cloudbursts.
Rescue teams are racing against time to find the missing. The district administration has set up relief camps for affected families. Officials said food, blankets, and medical supplies are being delivered.
Chamoli has witnessed major disasters in the past, including the 2021 avalanche and flash floods near Joshimath. Experts say rising rainfall intensity and fragile mountain slopes increase the risks.
For now, the priority remains rescuing those trapped and stabilizing areas hit by the latest landslide.
Weather Update for Uttarakhand
| City | Temperature (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Chamoli | 19 | Heavy rain |
| Dehradun | 23 | Moderate rain |
| Rishikesh | 25 | Light rain |
| Haridwar | 27 | Cloudy |
| Joshimath | 18 | Heavy rain |
The administration has appealed to villagers not to venture near rivers and landslide-prone slopes. As the rain continues, the fate of the five missing people remains uncertain. Rescue teams said they will continue searching through the day.
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