Heavy overnight rains wreaked havoc in Tharali, a town in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, on August 22. Floodwaters from an overflowing drain swept through houses and markets, carrying with them piles of debris that left much of the town battered. Officials confirmed that two people, including a 20-year-old woman, have been reported missing in the Sagwara and Chepdon market areas.
The sudden downpour also caused Tunri Gadhera, a seasonal canal meant to channel excess rainwater, to overflow. It inundated the local administrative office before joining the Pindar River. Chamoli’s Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash stated that the damage to homes, markets, and roads in Tharali and nearby areas was extensive. Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force and police rushed to the spot but faced delays due to blocked roads.
The Chamoli District Disaster Management Centre reported that the Karnaprayag–Gwaldam National Highway has been closed after debris blocked stretches near Ming Gadhera. Several other key local roads, including the Tharali–Sagwara motor road and Dungri motor road, were also cut off. Schools across three development blocks were ordered shut as a precautionary measure.
District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari reached the site early on Saturday morning to oversee relief efforts, while the administration began setting up relief camps for those displaced. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed concern and said he was in constant touch with officials monitoring the rescue operations. He assured that every possible effort was being made to ensure the safety of residents and prayed for the wellbeing of those missing.
The floods in Tharali come just weeks after Uttarkashi district suffered devastation from a cloudburst that killed one and left over 60 people missing. That disaster buried large parts of Dharali village under slush and debris, highlighting the growing risks posed by extreme rainfall in Uttarakhand’s fragile Himalayan terrain.
As operations continue in Tharali, the tragedy once again underscores the need for preparedness in a region where heavy rains often unleash destruction within hours.
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