Heavy rain wreaks havoc in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, several houses damaged, 2 missing
Chamoli ADM Vivek Prakash said houses and markets in Tharali and surrounding villages suffered heavy damage.
Chamoli ADM Vivek Prakash said houses and markets in Tharali and surrounding villages suffered heavy damage.
Chamoli ADM Vivek Prakash said houses and markets in Tharali and surrounding villages suffered heavy damage.
Gopeshwar (Uttarakhand): Incessant overnight rain in Chamoli district’s Tharali town triggered flooding in a rainwater canal, sweeping debris into homes, shops, and even the local tehsil office, officials said on Saturday. The downpour caused Tunri Gadhera, usually a dry canal, to overflow before emptying into the Pindar River. Two people were reported missing — Kavita, a 20-year-old woman from Sagwara, and another from Chepdon market area.
Chamoli ADM Vivek Prakash said houses and markets in Tharali and surrounding villages suffered heavy damage. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police teams were sent in on Friday night, but blocked roads have slowed progress. Relief camps are being set up, and DM Sandeep Tiwari has rushed to the affected areas.
The Chamoli District Disaster Management Centre said the Karnaprayag–Gwaldam National Highway has been shut due to debris near Ming Gadhera. Several local roads, including the Tharali–Sagwara and Dungri routes, are also blocked. Schools in three development blocks were ordered closed on Saturday.
District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari himself is overseeing the rescue operations in Chamoli.
Addressing the media, Tiwari said that NDRF, SDRF and police are engaged in relief and rescue efforts. He added that road near Harmani has been made operational. A holiday has been declared for all schools at Tharali, Dewal and Narayanbagh development blocks on Saturday.
According to Directorate of Information and Public Relations in Uttarakhand, Alakananda and Bhagirati rivers are flowing above danger mark as the continuous rainfall battered the Himalayan region. Rudraprayag adminsitration has appealed to the people living along the river banks to remain alert.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the damage, saying in a post that he was “closely monitoring the situation” and praying for people’s safety.
The incident comes weeks after a cloudburst in Uttarkashi district left one dead and at least 65 missing, with flash floods submerging Dharali village near Gangotri.