At least 10 missing, several stranded after heavy rain in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli and Rudraprayag

Meanwhile, in another incident from the Basukedar area of Rudraprayag district, debris flow has caused damage in a few places.

According to preliminary information received, a few villagers in Bareth and Dungar are reportedly missing, as the administration has been unable to contact or access the areas due to blocked roads and network failures. A house and a vehicle have been washed away in Syur. In Bareth in the Agustyamuni block, water and debris flow have cut off the village from both sides. In Kimana, large boulders and debris have affected farmlands and roads. Chenagad market area has been swept away.

In addition, there are reports of damage in an area called Chenagad, where it is feared that 4 local residents and 4 Nepali nationals may have been buried under debris. At around 7–8 places en route, the roads have been washed away, which is causing delay in the rescue teams’ arrival.

Red alert

Heavy rain battered several parts of the state late Thursday as an orange alert was announced in the districts of Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Rudraprayag. A red alert is in place between 8.35 am and 11.35 am in the districts of Champawat, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar, with heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder or lightning, and very intense to extremely intense rain forecast.

The district administrations of Chamoli and Rudraprayag are conducting relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. Prateek Jain, District Magistrate, Rudraprayag, is in constant touch with officials from the Disaster Control Room, and district-level officers are being deployed in the affected areas. Jain has issued necessary directions to ensure the effective conduct of rescue operations.

Teams from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the Public Works Department (PWD), and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) are clearing blocked roads. Alternative routes are being identified to reach the affected areas and send in relief and rescue teams, an officer in the administration said. Various officers have been dispatched from the district level along with revenue inspectors and other personnel for immediate action in the villages.

Rajiv Swarup, Inspector General of Police, Garhwal, said people have been stranded in various villages in Rudraprayag due to heavy rain. “On receiving the information, teams from Guptkashi police station, Disaster Control, SDRF, and DDRF have been dispatched immediately. All people are safe. However, due to streams overflowing on both sides of the village, 30–40 families are trapped in the middle. There is information that cowsheds are being washed away, and the loss of livestock is feared. Because of heavy rainfall, roads have been damaged/landslides have occurred at several places, due to which the rescue teams are getting delayed in reaching the spot,” he added.

Due to the continuous rainfall, the water levels of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers have risen significantly. The Rudraprayag police and administration teams are advising the public not to approach the riverbanks and to relocate to safe areas. The Alaknanda River has reached the national highway, disrupting vehicular movement.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X that the Bareth area under Rudraprayag district, and the Deval area of Chamoli district, have witnessed showers, after which some families have been trapped due to debris flow.

“Relief and rescue operations are underway at a war footing by the local administration; in this regard, 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,” he added.

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