At least nine labourers, all reportedly of Nepali origin, are feared to have been swept away following a cloudburst triggered by heavy rainfall along the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district in the early hours of Sunday.
According to the District Disaster Control Room in Uttarkashi, the incident occurred near Silai Bend in the Barkot area, a key point on the road leading to the Yamunotri temple, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites.
Barkot police station’s Station House Officer, Deepak Kathait, said the cloudburst was reported around midnight. “Information about a cloudburst on the Yamunotri highway was received around midnight,” he said. “A team rushed to the spot and found that labourers engaged in road construction work lived there by putting up tents. They are feared to have been swept away by heavy rain.”
Also read: Himachal CM confirms 5 deaths, many missing in Himachal floods
Kathait added, “So far eight to nine people are reported missing. All of them are of Nepali origin,” confirming that a search operation is underway.
The cloudburst has caused extensive damage in the region, leading to the closure of the Yamunotri highway at several locations, including Silai Bend.
In nearby Kuthnaur village, heavy rain has damaged agricultural land, filling fields with debris. “The road near Ojri has also been completely damaged. The agricultural fields are filled with debris,” said officials monitoring the situation.
Local authorities also raised concerns over the stability of key infrastructure in the wake of the downpour. The Kupda-Kunshala-Trikhili motor bridge in Syanachatti has been declared at risk due to the swelling Yamuna river, which has seen a sharp rise in water level following the rain.
Relief and rescue operations have been hampered by road blockages, with landslides and debris making several stretches inaccessible. The district administration has deployed personnel and equipment to affected areas, though officials said efforts are being slowed by continued rainfall and unstable terrain.
Follow us
