Uttarakhand Landslides and Flooding: One Dead, 11 Missing, 20 Injured in Chamoli District

Devastation Strikes Chamoli District

Heavy rainfall and subsequent flash floods triggered devastating landslides in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The calamity has led to the confirmed death of one person, with 11 individuals feared trapped under debris and 20 others sustaining injuries. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun reported that the deceased was identified as Narendra Singh (42).

The disaster primarily impacted four villages within the Nandanagar area: Kuntari Lagaphali, Kuntari Lagasarpani, Sera, and Dhurma. These villages, located approximately 260 km from Dehradun and 50 km from the Chamoli district headquarters at Gopeshwar, experienced significant destruction.

Casualties and Rescue Operations

According to the SEOC, Narendra Singh (42) was the confirmed fatality. Of the 11 people missing, seven are from Kuntari Lagaphali, and two each are from Kuntari Lagasarpani and Dhurma. Rescue teams managed to save three individuals—two women and a child—from Kuntari Lagaphali, who were among the 20 injured. Those with serious injuries have been airlifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh for advanced medical care.

Search and rescue operations are being conducted by multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), local police, and fire brigade personnel. These efforts are supervised by the district magistrate and superintendent of police. However, continuous rainfall and challenging terrain have reportedly hampered relief efforts.

Widespread Damage and Infrastructure Impact

The torrential rains and landslides flattened more than 30 houses across the four affected villages. Additionally, nearly 15 cowsheds were damaged, affecting over 200 people in total. The deluge in Nandanagar has severely crippled local infrastructure, resulting in power outages and extensive damage to roads, which has cut off access to several communities. Around 300 residents from the affected areas have been evacuated to safer locations.

While initial reports mentioned cloudbursts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) clarified that no cloudburst occurred in Nandanagar. Instead, the area received approximately 70 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, leading to flash floods due to already high water levels in rivers and saturated land conditions. This event follows a period of heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand, with a previous incident in Dehradun claiming 13 lives just two days prior.

Government Response and Future Outlook

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has reviewed the situation and is personally monitoring the relief and rescue operations. He has directed officials to expedite the restoration of essential services such as roads, drinking water supply, electricity, and network connectivity. Adequate arrangements for shelter, food, and medical assistance for the displaced have also been emphasized. The IMD has issued warnings for continued heavy rainfall in Chamoli and other parts of Uttarakhand, raising concerns about further landslides and flooding in the coming days.