AP & Telangana State Head – Anandam Dundi :
Chamoli (Uttarakhand), August 23
A devastating cloudburst struck Chamoli district’s Tharali area late Friday night, leaving several people feared missing and causing widespread destruction. Heavy debris swept through homes, shops, and government buildings, forcing panic-stricken residents to flee their houses in the middle of the night.
According to officials, the Tharali market area and the tehsil complex were buried under mud and debris. Many residential structures, including the official residence of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), were completely damaged. Vehicles parked in the vicinity were also buried. In nearby Sagwara village, a young girl was reported trapped under the debris, further intensifying fear among locals.
Some shops in Chepdon market were also damaged. The Tharali-Gwaldam and Tharali-Sagwara roads have been closed due to debris and heavy rainfall, severely affecting traffic and cutting off access routes. Disturbing visuals from the site showed residents wading through knee-deep water and debris inside their damaged homes.
District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed massive damage in Tharali tehsil. “A lot of debris has come due to the cloudburst, leading to complete damage to many houses, including the SDM residence,” he said.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed since last night. Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash said relief camps have been set up. “The administration is engaged in rescue work, but the road blockage and flooding are creating major hurdles,” he told ANI.
Chamoli police informed that locals were swiftly evacuated to safer places during the night. “Due to heavy rainfall, public life was severely affected. Police alerted residents and evacuated them promptly,” officials said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was in constant touch with officials and monitoring the situation closely. “Relief and rescue operations are underway. I pray for everyone’s safety,” he posted on X.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for very heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand till August 25, warning of more rain in Dehradun, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, and other hill districts in the coming days.
The state has witnessed relentless rainfall this season, leading to multiple incidents of cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods. Earlier this month, a cloudburst in Harsil and Dharali left many missing and caused extensive damage.
Authorities have urged residents to remain alert as rescue teams continue to search for those missing and provide relief to the affected families.