- विज्ञापन -
Uttarkashi, June 29: At least eight people have been reported missing after a cloudburst struck Baligarh along the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district late on Sunday, causing heavy destruction in the region, authorities confirmed on Monday.
Rescue Teams deployed amidst widespread damage
The District Disaster Management Centre stated that rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with local police, have been deployed to the site to conduct relief and rescue operations.
IMD Issues Red Alert
The victims, reportedly labourers, were working at a hotel construction site that suffered severe damage during the cloudburst, which was triggered by intense rainfall in the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the hill state for both Sunday and Monday, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at several isolated locations.
Highways blocked, Pilgrimage routes affected by landslides
In addition to the cloudburst, relentless rainfall across the state has led to significant disruptions. The National Highway near Nandprayag and Bhaneropani has been blocked, while authorities in Rudraprayag district were forced to halt movement on the Sonprayag–Munkatiya road due to landslides and falling debris earlier this week.
This particular road is vital for pilgrims travelling to Kedarnath. It has been completely closed near the Sonprayag shuttle bridge and the Munkatiya sliding zone, leading to a temporary stoppage of pilgrims at Sonprayag and Gaurikund to ensure their safety. The Yamunotri National Highway has also been blocked at two to three locations near Silai Band.
River levels rising
Officials at NH Barkot have been alerted regarding the obstruction. In addition, the flow of the Yamuna River has been interrupted due to the accumulation of debris in a drain near Syanachatti, posing a serious threat to the hotels situated in the lower areas of the region.
Heavy rainfall is currently lashing multiple districts of the state, including Chamoli, Pauri, Dehradun, and Rudraprayag, where several link roads have been closed due to landslides. As water levels in rivers continue to rise, the administration has issued advisories urging residents living along riverbanks to remain alert and take necessary precautions.
CM Dhami: Rescue ops on, Praying for rveryone’s safety
Taking to X, CM Dhami posted, “It has been reported that some workers are missing. Teams, including SDRF, NDRF, and others, have reached the site and are engaged in intensive relief and rescue operations. I am in constant contact with the concerned authorities regarding this matter. I pray to God for everyone’s safety.”
जनपद उत्तरकाशी की बड़कोट तहसील के सिलाई बैंड क्षेत्र में हुए भूस्खलन की दुःखद घटना में कुछ श्रमिकों के लापता होने की सूचना प्राप्त हुई है।
एसडीआरएफ, एनडीआरएफ सहित अन्य दल घटनास्थल पर पहुंचकर सघन राहत एवं बचाव कार्य में जुटे हुए हैं।
इस मामले में निरंतर संबंधित अधिकारियों के…
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) June 29, 2025
Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya said the administration received information early morning regarding the incident on the Yamunotri highway, approximately four kilometres ahead of Palighat, in a location called Silai. “There is a hotel under construction near Silai. Adjacent to it, a new landslide zone has developed where no such incident had occurred before — it was considered a safe area,” he said.
“While the rubble was cascading near the hotel, the labourers’ shelter or campsite got swept away. There were 19 labourers at the site, out of which eight or nine are missing,” Arya added. Rescue operations are being carried out by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police.
Heavy rains continue to lash Chamoli, Pauri, Dehradun, Rudraprayag, and surrounding districts, with several link roads shut due to landslides. As river water levels continue to rise, the administration has issued advisories urging residents living near riverbanks to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.
