In a devastating turn of events, five people have lost their lives, and 11 others remain missing as heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides across several districts of Uttarakhand on Friday. The worst-hit areas include Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, Chamoli, and Tehri Garhwal. The downpours occurred in the early hours, while most people were still asleep, amplifying the scale of destruction.
Rudraprayag, located in the Garhwal region, was particularly affected. Flash floods and landslides struck at 3:45 am, sweeping debris through villages like Chenagad, Taljaman, Bareth, Syur, Kimana, and Arkhund. Around 30 to 40 families were left stranded in the aftermath. One woman, Sarita Devi, was killed, while eight others went missing in Chenagad, including locals, a shopkeeper, and four unidentified laborers. Several houses, farmland, and livestock were buried under the rubble.
In Bageshwar, another hard-hit area, the village of Pausari in Kapkot Tehsil saw five to six homes destroyed. Two women, Basanti Devi (46) and Bachuli Devi (60), were killed, and several others, including Basanti’s husband and children, are missing. Pawan, Basanti’s 14-year-old son, shared his harrowing experience, recalling how he had to cling to a goat after a loud explosion caused their house to collapse.
Chamoli’s Mopata village was also affected by flash floods, claiming the lives of Tara Singh and his wife Kamla Devi. The floods also injured two others and destroyed a house, leaving around 25 cattle unaccounted for.
The situation remains precarious, with more rain expected. The Ghewali Gadere stream in Tehri Garhwal overflowed, damaging property, including two huts, a cowshed, and several temples, although no fatalities were reported from that area.
Authorities have mobilized extensive rescue operations, with teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other agencies rescuing 200 people so far. Relief efforts are underway, including setting up community kitchens and medical camps.
Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, has urged officials to accelerate rescue operations, ensure the relocation of affected families, and restore essential services like roads, water, and power. Authorities have also been monitoring weather alerts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and have warned of possible moderate flooding in 10 districts in the coming hours.
The Central Water Commission has raised concerns about several rivers crossing their danger marks, including the Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Mandakini, and others, which could swell further in the coming days. Disaster response teams are on high alert, and authorities have issued advisories to avoid movement near vulnerable stretches of riverbanks.
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