Cloudburst in Chamoli’s Tharali Buries Woman, Leaves One Missing; Homes Damaged

A woman was buried under debris and a man reported missing after a cloudburst struck Tharali tehsil in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district late Friday, officials said.

The sudden deluge sent mud and debris crashing into several homes, including the residence of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, causing extensive damage.

Morning visuals showed uprooted trees, damaged houses, and vehicles caked in mud. “A 20-year-old woman named Kavita has been buried, and a man named Joshi is missing. NDRF and SDRF teams reached the spot last night,” Chamoli ADM Vivek Prakash said, adding that floodwaters had blocked roads and relief operations were underway.

Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman confirmed debris had entered homes, markets, and the SDM’s residence. Chamoli DM Sandeep Tiwari warned of “a lot of damage,” though a full assessment is still pending.

The incident follows a devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi weeks earlier that triggered flash floods and left more than 100 people missing. Large parts of Dharali village were destroyed in that disaster.

The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert across Uttarakhand, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rain in multiple districts including Chamoli, Dehradun, Tehri, and Rudraprayag. Authorities in Pithoragarh have ordered schools closed and urged residents to remain alert for possible landslides.