Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday visited disaster-affected areas of Chamoli district to inspect ongoing relief, rescue, and road restoration efforts after a devastating cloudburst late Wednesday night.

The incident has impacted over 200 people, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.

Earlier in the day, CM Dhami reviewed the situation from the Emergency Operations Centre in Dehradun and was briefed about the scale of the damage.

He confirmed that around 35 houses were damaged, 20 people sustained injuries, and 14 others remain missing. The Chief Minister said that NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, and local police teams have been deployed and are working round the clock to rescue those trapped.

“All rescue teams have reached the affected areas. The district administration is on the spot. The injured have been taken to hospitals, and the severely injured are being shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. We are trying to move people to safe locations while also working to reopen blocked roads,” Dhami told the media.

He directed officials to ensure prompt distribution of relief materials, immediate restoration of electricity and water supply, and constant monitoring in disaster-hit areas.

CM Dhami also instructed all districts to remain on high alert throughout September due to the ongoing monsoon season.

Highlighting the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, Dhami appealed to devotees to plan their travel according to weather advisories issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to avoid risks during heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, search and rescue operations are continuing in Chamoli, where 10 people are feared trapped under debris. So far, two women and a child have been rescued in injured condition and shifted to nearby hospitals.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local police, is conducting intensive operations to locate those missing and restore normalcy.