Cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli District Leaves Seven Missing
A cloudburst in the Nandanagar Ghat area of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district has left at least seven people missing. The incident on Wednesday night triggered heavy rainfall and destruction, burying six residential houses under debris. According to the district administration, two people have been rescued so far. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and district officials are conducting search and rescue operations amid the debris as relief efforts continue in the affected region.
Unpacked:
A cloudburst is an extreme amount of rainfall in a short period, often causing flash floods and landslides. Uttarakhand is prone to cloudbursts due to its mountainous terrain and heavy monsoon rains, making local weather systems unstable and increasing the risk of sudden, intense downpours.
Earlier this year, Uttarakhand experienced multiple monsoon-related disasters, including cloudbursts and landslides that caused significant damage and fatalities. For example, just days before this incident, a cloudburst in Dehradun’s Sahastradhara area resulted in fatalities and widespread property damage.
Authorities have deployed SDRF, NDRF, local police, and district officials for rescue operations. Relief centers have been set up for displaced residents, roads are being cleared using JCB machines, and medical teams with ambulances are assisting the injured and evacuated families.
Rescue teams are contending with persistent heavy rains, difficult mountainous terrain, blocked roads, and fears of further cloudbursts or landslides. These conditions slow down the search for missing persons and the delivery of aid to affected areas.