Rescue teams are working tirelessly in Uttarakhand, combing through thick layers of debris to locate missing individuals following a series of devastating cloudbursts and heavy rains that struck Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, and Tehri districts on Friday, August 29. The natural disasters triggered landslides and flash floods, claiming at least six lives and leaving 11 people unaccounted for, according to state officials.

The relentless rainfall caused widespread destruction, washing away homes, shops, and infrastructure. In Rudraprayag’s Chenagad market, over 10 shops and dhabas were obliterated, buried under knee-high debris. “Restoring road access is critical to deploy heavy machinery for clearing rubble and reaching those trapped,” said Rudraprayag District Magistrate Prateek Jain.

Breached roads, including stretches of the Badrinath and Kedarnath highways, delayed rescue operations initially, but improving weather on Saturday has allowed teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and revenue police to accelerate efforts.

In Chamoli’s Mopata village, a landslide buried a house and cowshed, killing a couple and injuring another person. Bageshwar reported three missing individuals, while Rudraprayag accounted for eight. A 10-year-old boy’s body was recovered from a river in Dehradun, adding to the tragedy.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in constant contact with district officials, emphasized swift evacuation and relief, ensuring food, medical aid, and shelter for affected families. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall, raising concerns about further landslides in the fragile Himalayan region.

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