Chamoli — A man trapped under debris for more than 16 hours was pulled out alive by rescue officials in Nandanagar, police said on Friday, as operations continued in disaster-hit areas following heavy rainfall and a devastating cloudburst.
Rescue efforts entered their second day in Chamoli district, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and local police working to save those buried under rubble in Kuntari and Dhurma villages.
To restore connectivity, the Public Works Department (PWD) built a temporary Bailey bridge on the Dehradun–Mussoorie Highway after the earlier structure near Shiva Temple was washed away. The district administration has currently allowed only small vehicles on the route.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the affected regions in Raipur and Mussoorie constituencies, assessing the destruction and ongoing relief measures. He said around 200 people had been impacted by the disaster, which struck late Wednesday night, leaving 35 houses damaged, 20 injured, and at least 14 missing.
“The injured have been admitted to hospitals, and those in critical condition are being shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. Rescue teams are on the ground, and people are being moved to safer locations,” Dhami told reporters.
He added that damaged roads are being repaired on priority, while all agencies have been instructed to remain on high alert across the state until the monsoon season ends. “The Char Dham Yatra is underway, but I urge pilgrims to plan their journey according to IMD forecasts,” he said.
The cloudburst triggered flash floods and landslides in several parts of Chamoli, causing widespread destruction and displacing families. Relief camps have been set up, and search operations are being intensified to locate the missing.
