Heavy rains battered Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Thursday, September 18, 2025, unleashing gushing waters and debris that destroyed homes. The devastating floods have claimed two lives, with at least 10 individuals still unaccounted for.
This recent tragedy follows closely on the heels of similar destruction in the state capital, Dehradun, just two days prior. Those floods left 21 people dead and 17 missing.
The Chamoli district administration reported widespread damage across several villages in the Nand Nagar region. Emergency response teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, medical personnel, and paramedics, were swiftly deployed to the affected areas, initiating large-scale rescue operations.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held an urgent meeting with senior officials, emphasizing the need for all possible efforts to save lives. He directed the Chamoli District Magistrate to arrange airlifts for the critically injured to AIIMS Rishikesh. Furthermore, officials in all flood-affected districts were instructed to prioritize the rapid restoration of essential services like roads, electricity, water supply, and communication networks, alongside ensuring adequate provisions for shelter, food, clean drinking water, and medicines.
A detailed disaster management report outlined the specific impacts: In Kuntari Lagafali village, Nand Nagar, one fatality, seven missing persons, and three injuries were confirmed after homes were destroyed. The adjacent village of Kuntari Laga Sarpani also reported one death, one missing individual, and several injured. Additionally, Dhurma village listed two people as missing. Collectively, these three villages saw significant destruction, with 25 to 30 homes and other structures severely damaged.
More than 200 residents displaced by the calamity sought refuge in government-established rehabilitation centers located in local schools and community halls.
Uttarakhand has been struggling with a series of severe floods since August 5, when torrential downpours caused the Kheer Ganga river to surge, completely submerging Dharali village in Uttarkashi. That incident alone resulted in two deaths and left 67 people missing, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of the region to these natural disasters.