News Brief

Cloudburst In Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag, Chamoli: Families Trapped, Rescue Ops Underway

Swarajya Staff

Aug 29, 2025, 09:27 AM | Updated 09:27 AM IST


The water level of Mandakini river in Rudraprayag district has swelled due to continous rainfall
The water level of Mandakini river in Rudraprayag district has swelled due to continous rainfall

A cloudburst hit Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts late Thursday (28 August), trapping several families under debris and leaving multiple people injured.

"A distressing report has been received that due to cloudbursts in the Bareth Dungar Tok area under the Buskedar tehsil of Rudraprayag district and in the Deval area of Chamoli district, some families have been trapped due to debris flow," Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The Chief Minister said that relief and rescue operations are currently underway.

"Relief and rescue operations are underway at a war footing by the local administration; in this regard, I am in constant contact with officials, and have issued necessary instructions to the Disaster Secretary and District Magistrates to ensure the effective conduct of rescue operations," he added.

Earlier last week, Chamoli district witnessed another cloudburst in Tharali that sent debris crashing into homes and structures.

Tharali market area and the Tharali tehsil complex were heavily covered by debris.

Residential zones, shops, vehicles, and even the official residence of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) were buried under the debris.

Earlier on 5 August, a catastrophic flash flood triggered by intense rainfall caused debris-laden flows over Dharali and Harsil villages, in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district.

The sudden deluge swept away homes, buildings, bridges, roads, and claimed many human lives.

The flood buried half of Dharali village, built on a dried river course, and washed away an Army camp in Harshil.

This monsoon season, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh have been witnessing heavy, continuous rain with cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides.

Amid heavy rain and flooding, the Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered all schools in the Jammu region to remain shut until 30 August, prioritising the safety of students, teachers, and staff.

In Himachal Pradesh, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reported that as of Thursday evening, 524 roads—including two national highways—were blocked, 1,230 electricity transformers disrupted, and 416 water supply schemes left non-functional.

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Also Read: Multiple Feared Missing After Cloudburst In Uttarakhand's Chamoli District, Rescue Ops Underway


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