August 29, Friday: Fresh destruction was seen in Uttarakhand on Friday as cloudbursts occurred in Bareth Dungar Tok in Rudraprayag and Deval area in Chamoli district. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami issued a confirmation on social media, noting that a number of families were under the debris and relief operations were in progress. Hindustan Times and News18 wrote that Dhami was in touch with officials continuously and had instructed the Disaster Secretary and District Magistrates to put effective steps in place.
Rising rivers and blocked highways
Hindustan Times reported that heavy rain has swollen the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers in Rudraprayag to hazardous levels, stopping vehicle movement and inundating sections of the Badrinath highway between Srinagar and Rudraprayag. Visuals posted by PTI showed mud and debris all over the affected area. Authorities have ordered people on riverbanks in Chamoli and Rudraprayag to leave immediately.
Missing families, rescue workers on ground
After the cloudburst ANI quoted Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari as stating that two individuals went missing and some animals were buried under the debris after the cloudbursts. Relief teams have already been sent to the affected region, while several roads continue to be closed in view of heavy rain. District Magistrates of both Rudraprayag and Chamoli are in touch with disaster control rooms for faster evacuation and relief.
Earlier this month, similar cloudbursts struck Dharali in Uttarkashi, leaving over 100 people missing and halting the Gangotri pilgrimage. Experts from national geological and hydrological institutes are now set to study the recurring disasters in Chamoli’s Tharali region, as directed by CM Dhami.
I pray to Baba Kedar for the good safe well-being of all," Dhami posted on X, as Uttarakhand again grapples with the wrath of intense monsoon rains.
