Multiple families were reported trapped after cloudbursts triggered massive debris flows in the Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts of Uttarakhand on Friday.
The affected areas include Bareth Dungar Tok in Buskedar tehsil (Rudraprayag) and the Deval region of Chamoli district.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that relief and rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing by the local administration. He added that he is in constant contact with officials and has directed the Disaster Secretary and respective District Magistrates to ensure swift and effective rescue efforts.
“A distressing report has been received that some families are trapped due to debris flow following cloudbursts in Bareth Dungar Tok and Deval. Relief operations are ongoing,” Dhami stated in a translated excerpt from his post.
Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari, quoted by news agency ANI, reported that two people were missing in the aftermath of the cloudburst, and several animals had been buried under the debris. He also noted that multiple roads in the district had been closed due to heavy rainfall, further complicating rescue efforts.
A house and a cowshed were buried under landslide debris in Mopata village of Chamoli district, trapping a couple and leaving another injured, Chamoli’s District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said.
The missing couple was identified as Tara Singh and his wife, while the injured couple was identified as Vikram Singh and his wife, Tiwari said.