Two labourers died and seven are missing after a cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district triggered a massive landslide. Rescue operations are underway as CM Dhami suspends Char Dham Yatra and the IMD issues a red alert for multiple districts due to heavy rainfall and flood risks.
A devastating cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district early Sunday has left at least two labourers dead and seven others missing, after torrential rains triggered a landslide near a construction site along the Yamunotri National Highway. The disaster struck the Silai area, where a group of 29 workers were sheltering near an under-construction private hotel.
According to officials, the landslide swept away a labourers’ campsite during the early hours, catching the workers off guard. Rescue teams promptly arrived at the site and successfully evacuated 20 individuals. However, nine people were initially reported missing, with two bodies later recovered, bringing the confirmed death toll to two.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed the media, confirming the fatalities and assuring that a full-scale rescue operation is in progress. “This morning, a large landslide occurred in Uttarkashi, trapping 29 people who were working there. Twenty people have been evacuated. Two bodies have been recovered so far,” he stated.
CM Dhami emphasized the scale of the response, with multiple agencies collaborating on the ground. “NDRF, SDRF, and other related teams are carrying out rescue operations. For the next two months, all District Magistrates have been asked to remain on high alert,” he added.
The missing workers have been identified as:
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Dujelal (55)
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Keval Thapa (43)
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Roshani Choudhary (40)
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Vimla Dhami (26)
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Kalluram Chaudhary (55)
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Bobby (38)
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Chotu (22)
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Priyansh (20)
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Manish Dhami (40)
The site where the labourers had taken shelter is part of a private hotel construction project. The force of the landslide left little time for the workers to react, highlighting the dangers of ongoing development projects during the monsoon season.
As a precautionary measure, the state government has temporarily suspended the Char Dham Yatra—covering Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Pilgrims have been urged to remain at safe shelters until weather conditions improve. “Due to bad weather conditions, we have suspended the Char Dham Yatra. Food, accommodation, and essential services are being provided to pilgrims at designated shelters,” CM Dhami said.
The state government has also prioritized the ongoing UPSC examinations across several districts. Despite the inclement weather, attendance rates remained high. “The administration ensured that students and candidates reached the exam centres. The turnout is better than last year, which reflects our commitment to safety and service,” CM Dhami noted.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts, warning of intense rainfall and possible flash floods. Vikram Singh, Director of the Dehradun Weather Office, said, “Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in several districts for the next two days. A red alert has been issued for Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, Haridwar, and Udham Singh Nagar. An orange alert is in effect for the remaining districts.”
The IMD has also urged residents living near rivers and streams to take immediate precautions and relocate to safer areas. With rivers rising dangerously close to their banks, authorities have reinforced safety advisories and response plans.
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The incident serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of hilly regions during the monsoon. As the search for the missing continues, families wait in anguish, while state machinery is stretched to respond to both natural disasters and ongoing public needs.
The next few days remain critical as rainfall continues and rescue efforts intensify in Uttarkashi and surrounding districts.
