A cloudburst in Uttarakhand late Thursday struck Bareth Dungar Tok in Buskedar tehsil of Rudraprayag and Deval area of Chamoli district, leaving several families trapped under debris and causing multiple injuries. The cloudburst in Uttarakhand also buried animals and damaged homes, while two people have gone missing.
The Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Dehradun, and Bageshwar districts for August 29. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected relief work on-site, stressing that rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing.
Rising water levels in the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers worsened the situation. In Kedarnath valley’s Lawara village, strong currents swept away a bridge, while Chenagad faced critical conditions. Continuous rainfall also triggered road closures in multiple areas. Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed that relief teams had reached the affected spots.
The Badrinath highway between Srinagar and Rudraprayag was completely submerged by the Alaknanda River, leading to a total halt in traffic. SSP Pauri Lokeshwar Singh said pilgrims are being redirected via alternative routes. Police have urged people to stay away from riverbanks and shift to safer locations. Security personnel remain deployed across affected regions.
