Rudraprayag/Chamoli, Aug 29: A powerful cloudburst struck Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts on Thursday night, leaving several families trapped under debris, causing injuries, and sweeping away livestock.
In Mopata area of Chamoli’s Dewal block, Tara Singh and his wife went missing, while Vikram Singh and his wife were injured. Their cowshed collapsed in the incident, burying nearly 20 animals. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed on social media that debris flow blocked several areas, stranding residents.
The fresh incident comes days after a cloudburst in Chamoli’s Tharali region, where homes, shops, vehicles, and even the SDM’s official residence were buried under heavy debris.
Rescue and relief operations have been intensified. In Chamba district, 7,000–8,000 Manimahesh Yatra pilgrims stranded earlier this week have been a major focus of evacuation efforts.
Heavy monsoon rains have battered Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, triggering cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. The J&K administration ordered all schools in the Jammu division closed till August 30 to ensure student safety.
In Himachal Pradesh, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reported 524 roads blocked, including two national highways, along with disruption of 1,230 power transformers and 416 water supply schemes.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army launched large-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations on Thursday, deploying 12 helicopters to evacuate stranded civilians and deliver food and medical aid in flood-affected areas of Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab.
