Cloudburst hits U'khand’s Chamoli; 2 feared dead, SDM’s residence damaged

Dahradun: A powerful cloudburst struck Tharali town in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district shortly after midnight on Friday, sending a surge of water and debris through the area and flooding the Sub-Divisional Magistrate's residence, the Tehsil complex, and several homes.

Initial reports from the district disaster management office state that at least two people are feared dead or trapped, with one young woman believed to be buried under rubble and another reported missing.

The sudden disaster, highlighting the ongoing impact of the monsoon in the Himalayan state, caused extensive damage in Tharali Bazaar, Kedarbgarh, Radibgarh, and Chepadon. Administrative officials confirmed that several vehicles were buried under debris and that roads were submerged, cutting off access to parts of the town, TNIE reported.

Authorities said the cloudburst occurred around 1 am amid heavy rainfall, leading to water and debris entering multiple residential buildings, including the SDM's official residence and the Tehsil premises, both now filled with mud and muck.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes, recalling how residents fled their homes in the middle of the night as rising waters and debris swept through the streets.

In response to the cloudburst, district authorities declared a holiday for all schools up to Class 12 and Anganwadi centres in Tharali Tehsil on Saturday. Police and administrative teams were deployed to carry out rescue and relief operations. District Magistrate Dr. Sandeep Tiwari stated that officials are on-site and relief efforts have begun without delay.

Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer Nand Kishore Joshi reported that a young woman is believed to be buried under debris and another person remains missing. He added that an assessment of damage to vehicles and property is currently underway.

Tharali Block Head Pravin Purohit mentioned that three separate cloudburst incidents had been recorded in the region, with debris piling up to 10–12 feet near the residence of Nagar Panchayat Tharali President Sunita Rawat.

Authorities remain on high alert as the relentless monsoon poses ongoing risks, with teams working around the clock to prevent further damage and support affected families.