Uttarakhand cloudburst 2025 leaves rivers swollen, people missing, and rescue teams working across the Himalayan states.
The Uttarakhand cloudburst 2025 hit late Thursday night and left many parts of Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli shaken. Heavy rain caused rivers to swell and debris to flow into villages. Tehri Garhwal escaped without casualties, but Rudraprayag and Chamoli saw families trapped, people missing, and many injured. Houses, cowsheds, and public property took major damage. Rescue teams are still working day and night across the affected regions.
The Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers rose to dangerous levels after hours of rainfall. Rudraprayag police posted on X asking people to stay away from riverbanks and shift to safe areas. The water level still poses a threat to nearby homes.
Read More: Cloudburst in Doda Kills 4, Jammu on Flood Alert After Record Rainfall
Tehri Garhwal District Disaster Officer Brijesh Bhatt confirmed the cloudburst in Genwali Bhilangana. The incident damaged public and private property, but no deaths were reported from this part of the district.
Chamoli’s Mopata area saw the worst impact. Tara Singh and his wife went missing, while Vikram Singh and his wife got injured. Their cowshed collapsed, and about 15 to 20 animals were buried. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that debris blocked several routes and left many stranded. Relief operations are still on in multiple areas.
This disaster came just days after another cloudburst in Chamoli. That incident buried the Tharali market and tehsil complex under debris. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s residence, homes, shops, and vehicles also got damaged. People now fear that such extreme weather is becoming more frequent.
The monsoon is battering the entire Himalayan belt. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are facing landslides, flash floods, and road blockages. Jammu and Kashmir closed all schools in Jammu region till August 30 for safety. In Himachal Pradesh, officials reported 524 blocked roads, including two national highways, 1,230 damaged transformers, and 416 water schemes disrupted.
Read More: Twin Earthquakes Jolt Himachal’s Chamba, Cloudburst Damages Roads, Bridges in Kullu
The Indian Army started large humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations. Twelve helicopters are helping evacuate people and deliver food and medical aid. The forces are working in Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab alongside local administrations.
In Chamba, about 7,000 to 8,000 pilgrims on the Manimahesh Yatra got stranded earlier this week. Rescue workers are moving them to safe places and providing food and shelter until conditions improve.
