By The Sampadak Express
At least nine workers are feared missing after a cloudburst struck an under-construction hotel site near Paligad-Silai Band in Uttarkashi district’s Barkot tehsil during the early hours of Saturday. Rescue operations are currently underway.
According to officials, the incident occurred around 2 am, affecting a group of approximately 28 workers, mostly of Nepali origin, who were involved in road construction and had set up temporary shelters near the site. It is suspected that nine workers were swept away in the flash floods triggered by the cloudburst.
The cloudburst has caused significant disruption, leading to the closure of the highway at several points, including Silai Band. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police have been deployed and are actively conducting search and rescue operations.
Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman confirmed the incident, saying, “This incident happened near Silai Band in Barkot. A hotel was under construction where around 28 workers were engaged. Eight or nine of them are missing. Rescue operation is ongoing.”
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed the incident on social media platform X, stating, “I am in constant contact with the concerned authorities regarding this matter. I pray to God for everyone’s safety.”
The heavy rainfall has also led to a rise in the Yamuna River’s water level, putting the Kupda Kunshala Trikhili motor bridge in Syanachatti at risk.
Meanwhile, continuous downpours have triggered landslides and debris flow, blocking multiple roads across the state. Movement on the Sonprayag-Munkatiya route in Rudraprayag district key for pilgrims heading to Kedarnath has been restricted due to the ongoing rain.
Authorities have urged residents and travelers to stay alert as weather conditions remain volatile across several regions of Uttarakhand.
