Cloudburst in Chamoli: Two missing, several houses damaged

A cloudburst struck Mopata in Dewal area of Chamoli district late Thursday night, triggering flash floods and heavy debris flow. Two people, identified as Tara Singh and his wife, have gone missing, while several houses and cowsheds were damaged in the incident.

District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said that disaster management teams were immediately deployed to the affected site. Two injured persons rescued from the rubble are undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Officials also confirmed that nearly 15–20 cattle were buried under the debris, intensifying the tragedy for local villagers.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, expressed concern over the situation, stating, “A distressing report has been received that due to cloudbursts in the Bareth Dungar Tok area under Buskedar tehsil of Rudraprayag district and in the Deval area of Chamoli district, some families have been trapped due to debris flow. Relief and rescue operations are underway at a war footing by the local administration. I am in constant contact with officials, and have issued necessary instructions to the Disaster Secretary and District Magistrates to ensure the effective conduct of rescue operations. I pray to Baba Kedar for the safe well-being of all.”

Rescue and relief operations continue in full swing, even as Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh witness repeated cloudburst incidents this monsoon, causing loss of lives and widespread damage.