Tragic Landslides in Uttarakhand: Five Confirmed Dead and Eleven Missing

Severe Weather Causes Catastrophic Landslides

On Friday morning, Uttarakhand experienced a devastating incident as heavy rainfall and persistent cloudbursts led to significant destruction across multiple districts. Tragically, five individuals have lost their lives, and eleven others are reported missing. The severe weather conditions triggered landslides that demolished numerous homes and trapped residents beneath the rubble, according to local officials.

The districts most impacted include Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Bageshwar, which are still recovering from the earlier disaster that hit Tharali on August 23. This latest natural disaster marks yet another serious challenge for Uttarakhand during this monsoon season. Previously, on August 5, flash floods wreaked havoc in the Uttarkashi district, particularly affecting the Dharali area, a crucial stop along the Gangotri route, which is home to various hotels and homestays. The nearby Harsil area also faced severe flooding, resulting in significant damage to an army camp and leaving residents with little time to evacuate.

The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) reported that heavy overnight rains caused damage to several homes in the Pausari gram panchayat of the Kapkot area in Bageshwar district, resulting in two fatalities, three individuals missing, and one person injured. The deceased have been identified as Basanti Devi and Bachuli Devi, while Basanti Devi's son, Pawan, was rescued but injured. Additionally, her husband, Ramesh Chandra Joshi, along with Girish and Puran Joshi, all from Pausari, are currently unaccounted for.

In Chamoli district, a landslide buried a house and a cowshed, leading to the death of a couple and injuring another person, as reported by Chief Development Officer Abhishek Tripathi.

Relief efforts are actively ongoing, with officials striving to locate the missing individuals and provide support to the affected families. The relentless monsoon rains continue to pose a significant challenge for the region, which is still in the process of recovering from previous disasters.