Relief and Rescue Efforts Intensified in Chamoli Following Heavy Rains: Chief Minister Dhami
Dehradun: In the wake of heavy rainfall causing widespread damage in Chamoli district, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to accelerate relief and rescue operations and ensure immediate assistance to affected families.
Late Thursday night, the Chief Minister inquired about the situation from Secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, Vinod Kumar Suman, and issued instructions for swift evacuation of people from unsafe locations, timely medical care for the injured, and urgent search operations to trace missing persons.
“The state government stands firmly with the affected families during this hour of crisis. Relief and rescue teams must work diligently and with urgency in the affected regions. Adequate arrangements for accommodation, food, and healthcare have been made for those whose homes have been damaged. Relief camps must be fully equipped, and restoration of electricity, water supply, and road connectivity should be prioritized,” the Chief Minister said.
Situation in Chamoli District
According to Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, several villages in Nandanagar tehsil—including Kuntari Lagaphali, Kuntari Laga Sarpani, and Dhurma—were severely affected by torrential rains and landslides in the early hours of September 18, 2025.
Kuntari Lagaphali:
At around 3:00 a.m., reports were received of eight persons missing and buried under debris, along with damage to 15–20 buildings and a cowshed.
👉🏻 Three persons (two women and a child) were successfully rescued by local police, DDRF, and Revenue Department teams.
👉🏻 Nearly 150–200 villagers were evacuated to safer locations.
👉🏻 injured have been admitted to the Community Health Center in Nandanagar.
Kuntari Laga Sarpani:
Two persons have been reported missing, while two houses were damaged.
👉🏻 Local police, NDRF, and Revenue Department teams are carrying out search operations.
👉🏻 Around 100 villagers have been safely evacuated.
Dhurma Village:
The rising water level of the Moksha River caused damage to 8–10 buildings, and two people were reported missing.
👉🏻 Teams from SDRF, NDRF, ITBP’s 8th Battalion (Gauchar), DDRF, and Revenue Department have been mobilized.
Due to continuous rainfall and frequent landslides, rescue teams are facing difficulties in reaching the villages. NDRF and SDRF personnel are trekking on foot to access the affected areas.
Relief and Rescue Coordination
On receiving the incident reports, Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, Additional Chief Executive Officer (Administration) Anand Swaroop, Additional CEO (Implementation) and DIG Rajkumar Negi, JECEO Md. Obedullah Ansari, and experts from the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) reached the State Emergency Operations Center early Friday morning.
From there, relief and rescue operations are being monitored in real time. Teams have been activated and dispatched immediately from the control room to the disaster-hit sites.
