Chenagad village in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand was once a peaceful haven nestled amidst lush hills and rivers. The villagers thrived on agriculture and animal husbandry. The market area was home to small shops, fish ponds, and poultry farms, forming the backbone of the village economy.
However, on August 28, 2025, a catastrophic cloudburst hit the Baredath Dungar Tok area in the Basukedar region, transforming the serene Chenagad into a debris-laden terrain. The calamity, reminiscent of a 'Himalayan Tsunami', swept away vehicles and buried the lively market under rubble. Several residents are now missing.
Rudraprayag's SP, Akshay Prabhlad Konde, informed us that the Kedarnath Highway remains closed. The cloudburst in Chenagad has left eight people missing, including four locals and four of Nepalese origin. The highway closure near Banswara stranded the rescue teams, but the SDRF team has set out on foot to reach the site. Efforts to clear the roads are ongoing as various areas in Rudraprayag face significant damage.
Chenagad Before: A Village of Peace and Prosperity
Chenagad was a quaint market village in Rudraprayag district, cradled in the Himalayas. The air was perpetually fresh, blending with the life-supporting waters of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. The villagers primarily depended on agriculture, growing crops like rice, wheat, and vegetables.
Source: aajtak
The bustling market was the hub for local trade, where villagers bought and sold goods. Nearby fish ponds and poultry farms were additional income sources. People from nearby villages like Syur, Baredath, Baghdhar, Taljamni, Kimana, and Arkhund regularly visited here.
The roads connected through NH, PWD, and PMGSY linked the village to the Kedarnath Valley. Chenagad boasted schools, temples, and modest homes, attracting tourists as part of the Char Dham pilgrimage.
The Cloudburst Tragedy: Sudden Devastation
On the evening of August 28, 2025, a cloudburst struck the Basukedar Tehsil's Baredath Dungar Tok area. While it impacted both Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, Chenagad sustained the most severe damage. Torrential rain and debris crashed down from the mountains, engulfing the village. The previously calm rivers turned into raging torrents. The market place and homes were inundated with mud and rubble.
Source: aajtak
Initial reports reveal...
Chenagad Market Area: Market filled with debris. Vehicles swept away. Shops demolished. Rubble and sludge piled up.
Chenagad Dungar Village: Some residents disappeared. Homes of families washed away. People feared trapped under debris.
Jaula Baredath: Missing individuals. Water and debris flowed in from both sides of the village.
Arkhund: Fish ponds and poultry farms completely washed away, previously sources of income now turned to ruins.
Kimana: Cropland and roads blocked by massive boulders and debris. Crops destroyed, roads closed.
Syur: A damaged house, vehicle swept away.
Baredath, Baghdhar, Taljamni: Water and debris in torrents around villages, infiltrating homes.
Widespread damage affected surrounding areas too. In Chamoli's Dewal area, Tara Singh and his wife went missing in Mopatra, while Vikram Singh and his wife sustained injuries. Around 15-20 livestock were buried under debris. A motor road bridge in Kedarnath Valley's Lavara village was swept away, while the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers surged, inundating Ramkund. The Hanuman Temple was submerged. The Badrinath Highway between Srinagar and Rudraprayag was submerged. In total, over ten villages were affected, roads were closed, and many families were stranded.
Journey of Relief and Rescue
The district administration swiftly initiated action from the disaster control room. District Magistrate Pratik Jain is constantly communicating with officials. He deployed district-level officers to affected regions. All district-level officers are coordinating in the disaster control room. NH, PWD, PMGSY teams are rigorously working to open roads. Relief parties are being dispatched via alternate routes. Revenue inspectors and other staff are stationed in the villages.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief on social media, acknowledging the families stranded due to the cloudburst in Baredath Dungar Tok and Dewal. Relief operations are in full swing. I'm in continuous contact with the officials. Praying to Baba Kedar for everyone's welfare. NDRF, SDRF, police, and revenue teams are actively working. The army deployed 50 soldiers from Rudraprayag. Schools are closed, and those affected are being relocated to safe areas.
Stories of the Affected: Pain and Hope
Residents of Chenagad are in distress. One villager lamented, "Our market, which was our life, is now buried under debris. Vehicles swept away, families scattered." Families of the missing are anxious, but relief efforts offer hope. A woman commented that relief teams are coming, but roads are blocked. This disaster signals climate change, where cloudbursts have become commonplace.
Causes of the Rudraprayag Cloudburst Tragedy: Why Such Extensive Damage?
Natural Causes: Climate Change and Weather Irregularities
Cloudbursts in the Himalayan region involve sudden rain exceeding 100 mm per hour over a small area (20-30 square kilometers). Rudraprayag experienced a similar event, where heavy rainfall caused rivers to swell over their banks.
Impact of Climate Change:
Global warming increases atmospheric moisture by 7%, intensifying rainfall. According to IPCC reports, flood intensity in the Himalayas has risen over the last 60 years. In 2025, El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) disrupted the monsoon.
Orographic Lifting:
The high peaks of the Himalayas push moisture-laden winds upwards, leading to sudden cloudbursts. Although IMD issued warnings, forecasting remains challenging.
Weather Conditions:
Interactions between low pressure from the Bay of Bengal and western disturbances. Chamoli and Rudraprayag received 100-200 mm of rain, ten times the normal amount.
Geographical Causes: Himalayan Terrain
Rudraprayag sits between 1,000-2,000 meters elevation in the Himalayas where cloudbursts are frequent.
Slopes and Rivers: Steep slopes rapidly channel debris downward. The Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers swelled, turning into torrents.
Glacier Melting and GLOF: Glaciers like Gangotri see 10% reduced ice melt (IIT Indore Study), but sometimes GLOF (Glacier Lake Outburst Floods) exert impacts similar to cloudbursts. Some incidents in 2025 related to GLOF findings.
Earthquakes and Soil Erosion: The Himalayas are earthquake zones, destabilizing soil.
Human Causes: Development and Negligence
Human activities can exacerbate natural disasters.
Unplanned Construction: Roads, hotels, and bridges in Kedarnath Valley destabilized slopes. The Char Dham project led to mountain cutting, increasing debris. The 2013 Kedarnath disaster (5,000 deaths) highlighted similar issues.
Deforestation: Cutting forests raised soil erosion. River flow was disrupted by agriculture and construction in Chenagad.
Environmental Damage: Tourism-induced waste and construction increased. Ignoring IMD warnings and delay in rescue efforts.
Regional Issues: Crop burning and pollution in neighboring districts affect air quality.
