Saralnama
A cloudburst struck the Tharali tehsil of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, late Friday night, causing extensive damage to the Tharali market, tehsil complex, and nearby areas. Debris from the cloudburst buried houses, shops, vehicles, and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate's residence. Roads including Tharali-Gwaldam and Tharali-Sagwara were blocked due to debris and flooding, disrupting traffic. Two people, a young woman named Kavita and a man named Joshi, are reported missing. Rescue and relief operations are underway with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) deployed to the site. Local administration and disaster management teams are actively engaged in relief efforts. Schools in three development blocks have been closed as a precaution. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences and is monitoring the situation closely. The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms in the region. The incident has caused significant disruption and damage in multiple villages including Chepdon and Sagwara, with some shops reported washed away and vehicles trapped under debris. (Updated 23 Aug 2025, 10:38 IST; source: link)