Reported by Sampadak Express
The monsoon has unleashed a trail of destruction across the Himalayan belt, turning serene landscapes into disaster zones. Consequently, Sampadak Express brings you the latest updates from Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, where relentless rains and landslides have claimed dozens of lives and left hundreds missing.
In Jammu & Kashmir, the situation has turned grim. Torrential rainfall and landslides have devastated multiple districts. For instance, Rajgarh in Ramban witnessed a deadly cloudburst that swept away homes and killed three residents. Similarly, in Mahore, Reasi, a landslide crushed a house, killing seven people and triggering widespread panic. As a result, since Monday, the death toll in Jammu division has reached 54.
District-wise fatalities (Jammu division):
- Katra: 34 deaths
- Reasi: 7 deaths
- Ramban: 3 deaths
- Jammu: 5 deaths (including one Army and one BSF personnel)
- Doda: 4 deaths
- Kathua: 1 death
Meanwhile, Sampadak Express reporters on the ground observed collapsed homes, flooded roads, and families mourning their loved ones. Accordingly, rescue teams continue to search for survivors amid debris and rising water levels.
In Uttarakhand, the state faced a similar catastrophe early Friday morning. Cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides killed six people, including a couple, and left 11 missing. Notably, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Bageshwar districts bore the brunt. Homes, livestock, and farmland were buried under mud and rubble. Additionally, vehicles washed away, and several villages lost connectivity.
Two dead, three missing in Bageshwar
In Pausari village, Kapkot (Bageshwar), landslides damaged six houses. Specifically, two women—Basanti Devi Joshi and Bachuli Devi—died, while three others, including Basanti’s husband, remain missing. Likewise, in Mopata village (Chamoli), Tara Singh and his wife Kamla Devi died when their home collapsed. Vikram Singh and his wife survived but sustained injuries.
Three cloudbursts in Rudraprayag
Rudraprayag saw three cloudbursts that affected six villages—Taljaman, Chenagad, Badeth, Syuran, Kimana, and Arkhund. Consequently, around 30–40 families were trapped in flash floods. Fortunately, rescue teams evacuated 200 people to safer locations. In Gewali village (Tehri), heavy rain damaged temples, sheds, a cowshed, farmland, and the access road. Thankfully, no casualties occurred.
Due to continuous rainfall, the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers have swelled dangerously. As a result, water overflowed onto the Badrinath National Highway between Dhari Devi and Rudraprayag, halting traffic. In Pauri, flooding near Mini Goa Beach forced authorities to suspend vehicle movement temporarily.
Red Alert for Heavy Rainfall
The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehradun, and Rudraprayag. In addition, an orange alert has been declared for Champawat, Haridwar, Pithoragarh, Udham Singh Nagar, and Uttarkashi. Consequently, shops and six schools near Dhari Devi were shut as a precaution.
In Himachal Pradesh, the devastation continued. Chamba district reported ten deaths since August 24, including pilgrims to Manimahesh. Moreover, eight people sustained injuries, and four remain missing. Victims include Darshana Devi, Sulochana, Kavita, Rekha Devi, Sagar Bhatnagar, two children, and three others—Aman, Rohit, and Anmol—who died due to oxygen shortage.
Bharmaur Constituency Worst Hit
Bharmaur constituency emerged as the worst-hit region. Landslides severed communication lines, leaving satellite phones and police wireless as the only lifelines. Eventually, supplies reached Bharmaur from Chamba after four days. Sampadak Express captured visuals of stranded pilgrims walking on broken roads, navigating landslide-prone paths with the roaring Ravi River below. A local resident described the journey as terrifying, especially with no administrative support in sight.
Currently, thousands remain stranded between Gaurikund and Bagga. Since the road to Kalsui lies in ruins, authorities are now considering air evacuation as the only viable option.
In conclusion, Sampadak Express continues to monitor the situation closely, urging swift action from disaster management teams and local administrations. Ultimately, the scale of devastation demands not just relief—but accountability and preparedness for the future.
