A devastating cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district early Sunday morning has claimed the lives of at least two labourers, while seven others remain missing. The incident, which occurred near the Silai area along the Yamunotri National Highway, triggered a sudden landslide that swept away a labourers’ campsite adjacent to an under-construction hotel. Nineteen workers were present at the site when the disaster struck around 3 am. Rescue teams were able to save 10 workers, while the bodies of two missing labourers were later recovered from the banks of the Yamuna River near Tiladi Shaheed Smarak—roughly 18 km from the site of the landslide.
District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed that the affected zone had not been previously identified as a landslide-prone area and was considered safe until this sudden calamity. He noted that the force of the cloudburst sent rubble cascading down the mountainside directly onto the camp. Search and rescue operations are currently underway, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police working tirelessly to locate the remaining missing persons. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has assured the public that he is in continuous contact with authorities on the ground and has extended prayers for the safety of all those affected.
In light of the incident and the ongoing heavy rainfall, officials have decided to temporarily suspend the Char Dham Yatra—India’s revered pilgrimage circuit that draws lakhs of devotees each year. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Sunday and Monday, warning of extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning at isolated places in the region. The district administration has also taken measures to prevent the overcharging of food and other essentials, as part of broader efforts to manage the situation. This tragedy underscores the fragile balance between tourism and safety in the Himalayan region, raising concerns over infrastructure development and disaster preparedness.
