Another cloudburst struck Chamoli district of Uttarakhand late on Wednesday night, bringing heavy debris onto residential areas in the Kuntri Lagafali ward of Nandanagar. According to Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari, six houses were completely buried under rubble. At least 10 people are reported missing, while two have been rescued.
“Relief and rescue operations are underway on a war footing,” Tiwari told ANI, confirming that panic had gripped the community as fears grew that more victims could still be trapped.
Missing persons identified
Authorities have released the names of those unaccounted for. In Kuntri Lagafali, eight residents are missing: Kunwar Singh (42), his wife Kanta Devi (38), their twin sons Vikas and Vishal (both 10), Narendra Singh (40), Jagdamba Prasad (70), Bhaga Devi (6), and Deveshwari Devi (65).
Two others remain missing in nearby Dhurma are Guman Singh (75) and Mamta Devi (38). Rescue teams are working against the clock to locate them amid unstable conditions caused by the downpour.
Rescue and relief operations
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and district authorities rushed to the scene soon after the disaster. The Chief Medical Officer has deployed a medical team, supported by three 108 ambulances, to provide immediate aid.
Officials confirmed that monitoring is being conducted at the highest level, with efforts concentrated on clearing debris and providing relief to displaced families.
The Chamoli tragedy follows days of extreme rainfall across Uttarakhand. On Tuesday, cloudbursts and heavy overnight rain caused widespread damage in Dehradun, Nainital, and Pithoragarh, leaving 15 people dead, 16 missing, and nearly 900 stranded. Dehradun alone accounted for 13 fatalities, underlining the scale of destruction triggered by the monsoon.
As rescue teams continue operations in Chamoli, fear persists among residents of Nandanagar.