**Uttarakhand Faces Severe Rainfall: Chamoli District Struggles with Landslides and Highway Blockages**
As relentless rain continues to batter Uttarakhand, the Chamoli district experienced significant overnight rainfall, leading to the blockage of the Badrinath National Highway at five different locations on Friday. A substantial mountain collapse near Joshimath and Animath deposited debris onto the road, halting travel for both pilgrims and local residents. The state has reported six fatalities and 11 individuals missing due to cloudbursts and landslides that have caused widespread destruction.
Efforts to clear the debris are underway, but images reveal extensive areas buried under rock and mud. The highway remains obstructed at Pagalnala, Bhanerpani, Nandprayag, Kameda (Gauchar), and Animath near Joshimath, leaving pilgrims heading to Badrinath and Hemkund stranded alongside local commuters. The districts of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Bageshwar have been particularly hard-hit.
In Bageshwar’s Kapkot area, heavy rainfall damaged homes in Pausari village, resulting in two deaths and three individuals reported missing. The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) identified the deceased as Basanti Devi and Bachuli Devi. Her son, Pawan, was rescued with injuries, while her husband, Ramesh Chandra Joshi, and two others, Girish and Puran Joshi, remain unaccounted for.
In Chamoli’s Mopata village, a landslide buried a house and cowshed, claiming the lives of 62-year-old Tara Singh and his wife, Kamla Devi. Another individual sustained injuries, and 25 livestock are reported missing. Rudraprayag district also faced severe impacts, with three cloudbursts in the Basukedaar area causing landslides that resulted in the death of Sarita Devi in Jakholi. Eight people are missing in Chenagad, four of whom have been identified.
In Dehradun, a tragic incident occurred when the body of a 10-year-old boy was recovered from the Bindal River after he fell in late Thursday. Landslides in Syur village damaged a house and swept away a vehicle, while floodwaters inundated the villages of Badeth, Bagaddhar, and Taljaman.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reported that 70 individuals stranded in Taljaman and Kund villages of Rudraprayag were relocated to safer areas. Videos shared on social media depicted rescuers using ropes to assist people in crossing turbulent streams. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted a video conference with district magistrates, urging them to expedite relief and rescue operations. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), SDRF, District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), and revenue police have arrived in the affected districts but are encountering challenges due to damaged roads.
Tehri’s Budha Kedar area also reported significant destruction, with livestock sheds and temples buried under debris. In Genwali village, a house courtyard and toilet collapsed, while a security wall built by the irrigation department after last year’s disaster was washed away. Continuous rainfall has caused the Balganga, Dharmganga, and Bhilangana rivers to swell, creating panic among local residents.
The Badrinath National Highway remains blocked at multiple points, including Chamoli–Nandprayag, Kameda, Bhanerpani, Pagalnala, Jilasoo, Gulabkoti, and Chatwapipal. In Rudraprayag, the highway is obstructed at several locations, complicating rescue and relief efforts.
**FAQ: What measures are being taken to assist those affected by the flooding in Uttarakhand?**
Authorities are mobilizing teams from various disaster response forces to clear debris, provide medical assistance, and relocate stranded individuals to safer areas. Relief operations are ongoing, despite challenges posed by damaged infrastructure.
