Midnight Cloudburst Ravages Chamoli, Uttarakhand; Homes Buried in Rubble

Severe cloudburst hits Chamoli's Tharali causing devastation. Markets, homes covered in debris; vehicles trapped.
Severe cloudburst hi

Source: aajtak

In the early hours of Friday, a catastrophic cloudburst struck the Tharali area of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The incident has severely disrupted life in Tharali town and the surrounding villages. Torrential rains and debris have caused significant damage to homes, shops, and roads, with both the administration and SDRF teams actively engaged in rescue and relief efforts.

The most severe impact of the cloudburst was evident in Tharali market, Kotdeep, and the tehsil complex where rubble engulfed the tehsil premises, SDM residences, and multiple households. Several vehicles parked in these areas were buried under the debris, while the streets of the town resembled lakes due to the overwhelming accumulation of debris. Tragically, in the nearby village of Sagawada, a young woman lost her life due to the debris.

This event flung the region into chaos as locals fled their homes in a panic. Police and administrative teams rushed to the village to launch relief operations. Several shops in Chepdon market suffered damage from the debris, further compounded by reports of a missing person, which has fueled local concern.

Transportation Severely Disrupted

Owing to the heavy rains and debris, the Tharali-Gwaldam route near Mingdera is closed. Additionally, the Tharali-Sagawada route remains obstructed. The closure of these routes has crippled transport in the region, posing serious challenges to locals.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team from Gauchar is at the incident site, and the administration has expedited relief and rescue operations. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is tirelessly working near Mingdera to reopen roads, aiming to swiftly restore traffic flow and relief efforts.

Schools and Anganwadis Closed

As a safety measure, the district administration has ordered the closure of all schools and Anganwadi centers in Tharali tehsil for Saturday (23 August 2025). District Magistrate Dr. Sandeep Tiwari stated that police and administrative teams are diligently present on-site, accelerating rescue and relief activities.

Devastating cloudburst hits Chamoli, causing widespread damage. Tharali market, homes filled with debris, and vehicles buried. Young woman dies, one person missing in Sagawada.

Source: aajtak

Destruction from Uttarkashi to Rudraprayag

During this monsoon season, several major cloudbursts in Uttarakhand have caused widespread destruction. On August 5, 2025, a particularly destructive cloudburst struck the Dharali and Harsil areas in Uttarkashi, unleashing a flash flood that devastated the Dharali and Harsil region. Many homes, hotels, and infrastructure were swept away. At least four fatalities occurred, and dozens were reported missing. Villages like Sukhi and Bagori suffered extensive damage to homes and agricultural assets. Similarly, in late July, a cloudburst-induced flood in the Kedargathi region of Rudraprayag left a trail of destruction, burying homes and vehicles under debris and causing rivers to overflow.

Devastating cloudburst hits Chamoli, causing widespread damage. Tharali market, homes filled with debris, and vehicles buried. Young woman dies, one person missing in Sagawada.

Source: aajtak

You might also like