Cloudburst in Uttarkashi: 8-9 Labourers Missing, Rescue Operations Underway
Heavy rainfall triggered flash floods and a landslide, washing away a workers’ campsite near an under-construction hotel, as reported by the Disaster Control Room.
Heavy rainfall and cloudburst have been reported near Silai Wand in Barkot of Uttarkashi district. SDRF, Police and Revenue Department teams are present at the site of the incident. 8-9 labourers are reported missing in this disaster, search operation is going on for their search.Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and Revenue Department are engaged in a relentless search operation, battling adverse conditions to locate the missing workers, all reportedly of Nepali origin.
Devastation at Silai Wand
The cloudburst hit a previously safe area near Silai Wand, four kilometers past Palighat, where 19 labourers were camped near a hotel construction site The Yamunotri National Highway is blocked at multiple points, with debris clogging drainage systems near Syanachatti, raising flood risks for nearby hotels. The disaster has disrupted the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, with authorities halting pilgrim movement for safety.
VIDEO | Uttarakhand cloud burst: Rescue operation underway to find those missing after a cloudburst near Paligad-Silai Band in Tehsil Barkot of Uttarkashi district at around 2:12 pm last night.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 29, 2025
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/yZzzT9gKxs
Intensive Rescue Operations
SDRF, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local police have deployed drones, boats, and ground teams to search for the missing labourers. The operation, complicated by heavy rain and rising Yamuna River levels, focuses on a 20-kilometer stretch downstream.
Regional Impact and Alerts
The cloudburst is part of a broader weather crisis, with the India Meteorological Department issuing a red alert for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Landslides have closed key routes, including the Sonprayag-Munkatiya road, affecting Kedarnath pilgrims. Authorities have urged residents near riverbanks to stay vigilant.
A Race Against Time
The tragedy underscores the need for improved disaster preparedness in Uttarakhand’s fragile terrain, with calls for stricter construction site safety protocols during monsoon season.
