Once again, a cloudburst has struck India’s Uttarakhand state, unleashing sudden and intense rainfall that caused widespread destruction. Many houses collapsed, roads were severely damaged, and fears remain that several people are still trapped under debris.
The incident occurred on Friday (August 16) morning in Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, according to Indian media outlet Anandabazar.
The water level has been rising rapidly at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers in Rudraprayag. In the Kedarnath valley, a bridge was swept away by floodwaters. Several streams have overflowed into residential areas, submerging even the district’s Hanuman temple.
The worst-affected regions are Basukedar in Rudraprayag and Debal in Chamoli. In these areas, a couple was swept away by the river and remains missing. Several people injured after being trapped under rubble have been rescued, but authorities fear many more could be stranded in remote locations.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that landslides along hilly roads have left large numbers of people trapped. Rescue operations are underway, with the Chief Minister in constant contact with officials. Special directives have also been issued to the Disaster Management Department and district magistrates.
