10 missing after heavy rain triggers landslide, flood in Uttarakhand

Ten people are missing after a landslide flattened houses in Kuntari and flooding from the Moksha river swept away buildings in Dhurma, Chamoli district, following heavy rainfall on Thursday.

Eight people, including four members of a family, went missing in Kuntari when torrents of mud and boulders rolled down, destroying half a dozen homes. Two others were reported missing in Dhurma after the overflowing Moksha river damaged several buildings, Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed.

Search operations are underway in Kuntari, though swampy conditions are hampering efforts. Relief work is further delayed as debris has blocked the access road to Nandanagar. The missing in Kuntari were identified as Kunwar Singh (42), his wife Kanta Devi (38), their sons Vikas and Vishal (10), Narendra Singh (40), Jagdamba Prasad (70), Bhaga Devi (65), and Deveshwari Devi (65).

Local Red Cross official Nandan Singh, part of the rescue effort, told PTI that many injured villagers are awaiting evacuation, but road closures are making hospital transfers impossible. Authorities are preparing for helicopter airlifts. More than ten people were injured in the incident.

In Dhurma, the missing were identified as Guman Singh (75) and Mamta Devi (38). Flooding has also caused erosion along the Moksha River between Dhurma and Sera, damaging dozens of buildings, including six homes.

National and State Disaster Response Force teams, supported by medical staff and ambulances, have been dispatched. District authorities reported that parts of Nandanagar had already suffered land subsidence in August, forcing earlier evacuations. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief on X, stating he is in constant touch with officials. The disaster follows cloudbursts in Dehradun earlier this week, which killed 13 and left 16 missing.