Personally Monitoring Relief Efforts After Chamoli Cloudburst, Praying For Everyone’s Safety, Says CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

On Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami voiced concern over the cloudburst that struck Tharali in Chamoli district. He said that he was keeping close watch on the ongoing relief and rescue operations.

Officials confirmed that at least two people went missing after the incident late on Friday night, which left widespread devastation in its wake.

Heavy rainfall lashed several parts of the Tharali developmental block, causing damage in Kotdeep, Radibag, Upper Bazar, Kulsari, Chepdo, Sagwara and nearby villages.

Taking to X, CM Dhami posted, “Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and engaged in relief and rescue operations.”

“In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyone’s safety,” the post added.

Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), dispatched from Gauchar to assist, while the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) began clearing the Ming Khedere stretch to reopen blocked routes.

Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash noted that debris entered houses and shops, with Chepdo village experiencing the heaviest destruction.

Authorities reported that an elderly person was missing in Chepdo, while in Sagwara, a 20-year-old girl, feared trapped inside a collapsed building.

Debris blocked the Tharali–Gwaldam road near Ming Khedere, while the Tharali–Sagwara route also stayed shut, cutting off movement in the area.

The downpour swept away vehicles, damaged shops and homes in Kotdeep, and left several cars buried.

In Radibag, debris entered the residences of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and the Nagar Panchayat President, as well as other houses, trapping motorcycles and vehicles under rubble.

Terrified residents fled their homes during the heavy rains, seeking shelter in safer areas.

IMD Issues Orange Alert

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for Uttarakhand, predicting thunderstorms, lightning and very heavy rain across districts including Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Nainital, Almora and Udham Singh Nagar.

Locations such as Kotdwar, Rishikesh, Gangotri, Kashipur, Kedarnath, Joshimath, Mussoorie, Munsyari, Lohaghat, Ranikhet and Khatima remain under warning for the next 24 hours.

As a precaution, the Chamoli district administration announced the closure of all schools and Anganwadi centres in Tharali tehsil on Saturday.

Also Read: Two Missing As Cloudburst Wreaks Havoc In Uttarakhand’s Chamoli District