Uttarakhand Landslides: Ganga Ghats Evacuated As River Flowing In Spate, IMD Issues Red Alert

Last Updated:August 29, 2025, 16:40 IST

Uttarakhand rains cause landslides, cloudbursts and river flooding in Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Bageshwar; Ganga Ghats evacuated, highways blocked.

The Ganga is flowing above the danger mark in Uttarakhand. (ANI)

Uttarakhand Rains: The incessant rainfall has thrown life off track across Uttarakhand, triggering landslides in several areas. At least five people were killed and three were reported missing as heavy rainfall and cloudbursts wreaked havoc across the state early on Friday.

Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Bageshwar were among the districts affected by the disaster.

Ganga Ghats Evacuated

Due to the continuous rainfall in the hilly region, the water level of the Ganga has increased and is flowing above the danger mark. In view of this, teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police have issued appeals to people living along the Ganga Ghats of Rishikesh and Haridwar to move to safer places, news agency ANI reported.

Additionally, all the Ganga Ghats have also been evacuated.

5 Dead, Many Families Trapped In Cloudbursts

At least five people were killed, three went missing, and around 30-40 families were left buried after heavy rains and cloudbursts wreaked havoc in various districts of Uttarakhand early Friday.

The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) here said excess overnight rainfall damaged nearly half a dozen houses in Pausari Gram Panchayat in Kapkot area of Bageshwar district, killing two people and leaving three others missing.

Additionally, a house and a cowshed were buried under landslide debris in Mopata village of Chamoli district, killing a couple and leaving another injured, Chief Development Officer Abhishek Tripathi told news agency PTI.

Incessant rain and landslides in Basukedaar area of Rudraprayag district have caused heavy damage in more than half a dozen villages, officials said.

Incessant rains and cloudbursts also caused heavy losses in Budha Kedar area of Tehri district where sheds built for livestock and temples were buried under the debris. Locals said that a toilet and the courtyard of a house in Genwali village of Budha Kedar area of Ghansali was hit by the landslides.

The security wall built by the irrigation department after the disaster last year also got washed away due to debris and heavy rains.

In an X post, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the tragedy struck the Bareth Dungar Tok area of Buskedar tehsil in Rudraprayag and the Deval area of Chamoli.

The Chief Minister also said the relief and rescue operations were being carried out by the local administration, and that he was in contact with officials.

He mentioned that he had instructed the Disaster Secretary and District Magistrates to ensure effective rescue measures.

NDRF, SDRF, DDRF and revenue police teams have rushed to the disaster-hit districts.

Rivers Flowing In Spate, Badrinath Highway Blocked

Due to continuous rains, the Balganga, Dharmganga and Bhilangana rivers are in spate, triggering panic among the locals. Further, the water level of Alaknanda and its tributaries and Mandakini river is also continuously rising due to continuous rain. The police is alerting the people living on the banks of the river by making announcements.

The Badrinath national highway was blocked due to debris at many places in Chamoli-Nandprayag, Kameda, Bhanerpani, Pagalnala, Jilasoo, Gulabkoti and Chatwapipal.

In Rudraprayag district too, the Badrinath national highway is closed at Sirobgadh while the Kedarnath Highway has been blocked at four different places between Banswara (Syalsaur) and Kund to Chopta.

According to the administration, teams are working on the spot to open the route.

Pilgrims have been requested to set out on the journey only after taking information about the road and to follow the updates issued from time to time by the police and administration.

IMD Issues Red, Orange Alerts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert of heavy to very heavy rains for Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehradun and Rudraprayag districts of Uttarakhand over the next 24 hours.

An orange alert of heavy to very heavy rains has also been issued for Champawat, Haridwar, Pithoragarh, Udham Singh Nagar and Uttarkashi districts during the period.

Cloudbursts and flash floods triggered by heavy rain have been reported in multiple districts of Uttarakhand since the onset of the monsoon this year.

(With inputs from agencies)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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Rishikesh, India, India

First Published:

August 29, 2025, 16:40 IST

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