1 Feared Dead, Towns Flooded After Midnight Cloudburst in Chamoli; CM Dhami Monitors Rescue Ops
A devastating cloudburst struck Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district late Friday night, leaving a trail of destruction as flash floods and debris inundated several areas. One young girl is feared dead in Sagwara village, and another person is reported missing, sparking widespread panic as massive rescue operations get underway.
The deluge hit the Tharali market, Kotdeep, and the tehsil complex with ferocious intensity, as a torrent of water, mud, and rubble swept through homes and official buildings, including the SDM’s residence. The powerful flow turned streets into murky ponds and buried numerous vehicles parked at the tehsil complex. The scale of the personal losses was captured in a widely circulated video where a distressed resident was heard lamenting, “My car has sunken.”
In response to the crisis, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured that he is personally overseeing the situation. “Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district,” he posted on X. “The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I am in constant contact with the local administration… I pray to God for everyone’s safety.”
District Magistrate Dr. Sandeep Tiwari confirmed the deployment of emergency teams, stating, “The police and administration teams are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations.” A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team from Gauchar has been dispatched to the affected zone.
Critical infrastructure has been severely impacted, with debris blocking the Tharali-Gwaldam and Tharali-Sagwara roads. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is working to clear the blockages to restore connectivity. As a precautionary measure, the district administration has ordered all schools and anganwadi centres in Tharali tehsil to remain closed on Saturday, August 23.
