New Delhi

In the early hours of Friday, two cloudbursts caused severe damage in Uttarakhand’s Tharali and Chamoli districts. The first cloudburst hit Tharali’s Bugyal region, causing extensive damage to farmland from Dhadarbagad to Tharali village. The Pranmati River, swollen by the cloudburst, flooded the area, affecting the Shiv Temple at Sangam and creating widespread alarm among local residents.

Soon after, another cloudburst struck Harni in Chamoli’s Dewal block, leading to flooding in local rivers. The floodwaters washed away a pedestrian bridge and severely damaged crops, causing further distress to the community. The Pindar River’s water level surged alarmingly due to both cloudbursts, flooding Tharali’s main market and submerging homes and shops between the Ramleela ground and the Betaleshwar Mahadev temple complex.

Residents were forced to evacuate as the floodwaters inundated their homes. By Friday afternoon, as the Pindar River’s levels began to fall, there was hope for relief. However, the floods left significant destruction, particularly impacting farmers in Tharali, Harni, Bakrigad, and Mundoli, who now seek immediate damage assessments and compensation from the local administration to recover from their losses.