Five Killed, 11 Missing After Heavy Rain, Landslides in Uttarakhand

Dehradun | At least five people were killed and 11 went missing after heavy rain and a series of cloudbursts triggered landslides across several districts of Uttarakhand on Friday, officials said. The calamity damaged houses, buried residents under debris, and left widespread destruction.

The worst-affected districts include Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Bageshwar, which were hit just days after the Tharali disaster on August 23. Uttarakhand has faced multiple natural calamities this monsoon season, including the August 5 flash flood in Kheer Ganga, Uttarkashi, that devastated Dharali village and nearby Harsil.

According to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA), overnight rainfall destroyed nearly half a dozen houses in Pausari gram panchayat of Bageshwar district, leaving two people dead, three missing, and one injured.

In Chamoli district, a couple died when their house and cowshed were buried under landslide debris in Mopata village, Chief Development Officer Abhishek Tripathi said. Another person was injured in the incident.

In Rudraprayag, heavy rain and landslides struck several villages in the Basukedaar area. Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman confirmed that a woman died in a house collapse at Jakholi and reported three separate cloudbursts in the district.

Rudraprayag SP Akshay Prahlad Konde added that four locals and four Nepal nationals were trapped under debris in the Chenagad area. With roads broken at seven to eight points, rescue operations were facing severe difficulties.

Authorities are continuing search-and-rescue efforts as the situation remains critical.