Chamoli Chaos: Heavy Rains Block Roads, Flood Homes
Relief camps are being established to aid affected residents
The deluge, fueled by heavy overnight rains, crippled Tharali town in Chamoli district triggering flash floods that inundated homes, markets, and the local tehsil office with debris, disrupting key infrastructure, with major roads blocked and relief efforts hampered, officials reported.
The Tunri Gadhera, a dry canal meant to channel excess rainwater, overflowed, depositing mud and rubble across Tharali and into the Pindar River. Kavita, a 20-year-old woman from Sagwara, and another individual from Chepdon market are missing, with search operations underway. “The situation is grim, with significant damage to structures,” said Chamoli Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash. The Karnaprayag-Gwaldam National Highway near Ming Gadhera, along with the Tharali-Sagwara and Dungri motor roads, remain closed due to debris, severely limiting access.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed sorrow over the destruction, stating on X, “I am personally monitoring the situation and pray for everyone’s safety.” Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police were dispatched Friday night but are stalled by blocked roads. District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari reached the site early Saturday to oversee operations, while relief camps are being established to aid affected residents. Schools in three development blocks—Tharali, Narayanbagar, and Dewal—were shut as a precaution.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert, warning of intense rainfall and thunderstorms across Chamoli, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Nainital, and Almora until Saturday afternoon. The alert follows a pattern of extreme weather in Uttarakhand, with a recent cloudburst in Uttarkashi’s Dharali village, 264 km from Chamoli, killing one and leaving 65 missing. That disaster buried half the village, a key stopover en route to Gangotri, under a mudslide.
Local accounts describe scenes of chaos in Tharali, with vehicles, shops, and homes buried under sludge. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is working to clear debris, but persistent rain complicates efforts. Posts on X highlight public frustration over recurring monsoon disasters, urging better preparedness. The Chamoli District Disaster Management Centre is coordinating aid, with Dhami directing officials to prioritize rescue and rehabilitation. As the region braces for more rain, the focus remains on locating the missing and supporting displaced families.
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