Many people are feared missing after a cloudburst struck Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday night, triggering debris flow that swept through several homes.

Officials said the Tharali market area, along with vehicles and residential buildings, has been heavily inundated with debris, while several shops have also suffered damage.

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In Sagwara village, a girl is reported to be trapped under the debris inside a building, and rescue teams are currently engaged in operations to save her.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in an X (formerly Twitter) post on Saturday that a cloudburst struck the Tharali area of Chamoli district late last night. 

He informed that the district administration, SDRF, and police teams had reached the spot and were carrying out relief and rescue operations. Dhami added that he is in constant touch with local officials and is personally monitoring the situation. He also prayed for the safety of the people affected by the incident.

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Chamoli ADM Vivek Prakash told news agency ANI that the cloudburst has caused extensive damage due to flash floods in the region. He confirmed that a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kavita, has been buried under debris, while a man named Joshi remains missing.

“NDRF and SDRF teams moved to the spot last night. The road has been blocked due to the floods and people are facing a lot of problems. The administration is engaged in relief work. Apart from this, we have set up relief camps. The District Magistrate left early in the morning and has reached the spot, and relief work is going on there,” he said.