(Image source from: Newsonair.gov.in)

A sudden downpour hit the Rudraprayag and Chamoli regions of Uttarakhand on Thursday night, causing several families to be trapped under rubble and resulting in various injuries. Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami shared on X that the flow of debris following the cloudburst has obstructed some areas, leaving many individuals stuck. He mentioned that operations for relief and rescue are underway. In the Mopata region of Chamoli district, two individuals, Tara Singh and his spouse, are missing, while Vikram Singh and his wife were hurt. Additionally, their cowshed fell apart during the incident, with around 15 to 20 animals reportedly buried. Just last week, another cloudburst struck the Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, which led to debris flooding through houses and structures. Officials reported that the Tharali market area and the Tharali tehsil complex were deeply covered in debris. Numerous houses, including the official home of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), along with stores and vehicles, were buried under the rubble.

Efforts for rescue and relief are actively ongoing, especially in Chamba district, where earlier this week, around 7,000 to 8,000 pilgrims engaging in the Manimahesh Yatra were left stranded. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have been experiencing heavy and persistent rainfall, bringing about cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides during this season. Due to the severe rain and flooding, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to close all schools in the Jammu region until August 30 to prioritize the safety of students, teachers, and school staff. In Himachal Pradesh, as reported by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) on Thursday evening, 524 roads, including two national highways, were blocked. Additionally, 1,230 electricity distribution transformers were affected, and 416 water supply schemes were rendered ineffective. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Indian Army announced the initiation of extensive humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations using 12 helicopters to evacuate people and provide medical assistance and food to those trapped in areas lacking food, based on requests from the civil authorities in Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab.