Torrential rains and cloudbursts have unleashed widespread devastation across Uttarakhand, claiming lives, destroying homes, and cutting off key tourist destinations. In Chamoli district, a cloudburst early Thursday morning caused the collapse of six buildings in the Kuntari Lagafali area of Nandanagar, leaving 10 people missing, including two children and several elderly residents.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with teams from the NDRF, SDRF, local police, and medical units deployed to the disaster site. Officials have confirmed that the search is being hampered by debris and unstable terrain.
Simultaneously, in Mussoorie, continuous heavy rainfall and landslides have damaged key roads, severing road connectivity between the popular hill station and Dehradun. Over 2,500 tourists have been stranded as both the main Dehradun–Mussoorie highway and alternative routes have been blocked or rendered unsafe.
In a show of solidarity, members of the Mussoorie Hotel Owners’ Association are offering free overnight stays and meals to stranded tourists who were scheduled to check out on the day of the disruption.
Authorities have begun constructing a Bailey bridge near Kolhukhet to restore partial access for light vehicles, while a longer alternative route via Vikasnagar has also been opened. Restoration work is ongoing, although it is challenging due to unstable weather conditions.
The rainfall-related disasters across the state have so far claimed at least 15 lives, with several others reported missing. Infrastructure damage includes roads, bridges, and embankments, particularly in Dehradun and the surrounding districts.
The Uttarakhand government has urged residents and tourists to avoid travel to vulnerable areas as more rain is expected in the coming days. Search-and-rescue operations are likely to continue across multiple districts as weather conditions remain precarious.
Also Read: Dehradun Deluge: 101-Year Rainfall Record Broken as Monsoon Chaos Hits Uttarakhand
