Uttrakhand: In the early hours of the morning around 2, a straight-forward evening in Chamoli’s Tharali subdivision turned into a nightmare when a cloudburst–an intense bout of rain that leads to flash flooding turned into devastation due to massive debris-flow from the overflowing Tunri Gadera stream flowing into hundreds of buildings, markets, and roads; wiping out people, property, vehicles, walls, and fellow human beings.
Homes, Markets, and Lives Buried Under Debris
Mother Nature’s wraith of rain and debris was merciless. Government officials reported that the Deputy magistrate’s residence, the homes, and all of the concrete areas within the bazaar association in Chepado Bazar and Kotdweep Bazar were submerged under nearly two feet of debris and mud. Residents whose homes and shops were washed away say they cannot emphasize how it was “unrecognizable,” and as a result, the communities were physically delocalized.
Missing or Trapped: People Missing
Officials have confirmed that at least one girl is trapped under a pile of rubble in the Sagwara village, and one person from Chepdo is still not accounted for. When local officials were asked about damage, they offered nothing specific, but hinted at calamity: approximately a total of 30-40, counting both Tharali and Chepdo impacted by the debris-flow, and speculation of a large number of people missing.
Rescue in Action, While Rain Alerts Are Active
Chamoli’s disaster response units – SDRF, police, and district labourers have deployed heavy machinery to remove the landslide blockage on access roads. A helicopter was requested to airlift the SAR teams (from Gauchar) before traveling by road (which is also closed).
Rescue efforts are also hampered by an active orange alert from the India Meteorological Department, indicating heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for Chamoli and other districts in the state. Authorities are requesting people in landslide-prone areas to remain vigilant and take precautions.
Displaced but Not Defeated
This disaster, born in a matter of minutes, reminds us all how quickly nature can overwhelm. But, within the chaos, there is strength: teams of rescue professionals putting their lives on the line, communities coming together to support one another, and local administration doing everything in their power to support relief.
Locals are coming together to help one another despite being shaken to the core. It will be a long process, but the spirit of Chamoli, tested overnight, shines through even in the darkest of times.
