Uttarkashi cloudburst | Highlights: IAF, Army continue to search for missing; death toll rises to 5

Uttarkashi cloudburst live updates: Chief minister Pushkar Dhami, who was on a visit to Andhra Pradesh, returned to Dehradun on Tuesday to personally review the Uttarkashi cloudburst and flash flood situation. He held an emergency meeting with senior officials at the State Emergency Operation Centre.

“Our priority as of now is to save lives,” Dhami said.

Speaking to reporters, Dhami confirmed that 130 people trapped in flood-hit areas have been safely evacuated.

“SDRF, NDRF, Army and ITBP teams are on the spot," he told reporters in Dehradun, reported news agency PTI.

Uttarkashi cloudburst live updates: The Uttarakhand flashflood has left at least four people dead, confirmed district disaster management officer Shardul Gusain.

“We have received reports of four fatalities. Rescue teams from the district administration, police, NDRF, SDRF, and the army have been deployed to the site and rescue operations are ongoing,” he said.

70 people have been rescued so far by the Army, SDRF, and local police, despite relentless rain and difficult terrain.

Eyewitnesses and officials compared the devastation to the 2021 Chamoli disaster, in which over 200 lives were lost. Authorities say more casualties are feared, and the actual toll will be known after assessment teams return. Read More.

Uttarkashi cloudburst live updates: As heavy rainfall continues to lash parts of Uttarakhand following the Uttarkashi cloudburst, authorities have issued fresh alerts in multiple districts.

The Chamoli Police have cautioned residents in the Tharali area about potential flooding from the Pinder River, following warnings from the Meteorological Department.

"All citizens residing along the banks of the Pinder River in the Tharali area are informed that the Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy rainfall in the coming days, and a continuous rise in the water level of the Pinder River has been observed," Chamoli Police posted on X.

Meanwhile, severe waterlogging has been reported from Haridwar on Tuesday, as incessant rain and the rising Ganga River level pose risks to residents and pilgrims.

Authorities have urged people to stay away from the ghats and take necessary precautions to ensure safety.

Uttarkashi cloudburst live updates: Amid the ongoing monsoon devastation and the aftermath of the Uttarkashi cloudburst, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has appealed to citizens to follow safety guidelines and avoid unnecessary travel.

To assist those affected by the situation, the state government has activated round-the-clock helpline numbers for emergency support.

Helpline numbers

1. District Emergency Operation Centre, Haridwar – Helpline Numbers:

📞 01374-222722, 7310913129, 7500737269

📞 Toll-Free No – 1077, ERSS Toll-Free No – 112

2. State Emergency Operation Centre, Dehradun – Helpline Numbers:

📞 0135-2710334, 2710335, 8218867005, 9058441404

📞 Toll-Free No – 1070, ERSS Toll-Free No – 112

Uttarkashi cloudburst live updates: In view of the worsening weather and flash flood crisis triggered by the Uttarkashi cloudburst, the Uttarakhand government has declared a holiday for all schools from classes 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centres in three districts — Champawat, Pauri, and Udham Singh Nagar.

The department of information and public relations posted on X: "In view of the weather department's rain warning in Uttarakhand, a holiday has been declared for all schools from class 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centers in the state's Champawat, Pauri, and Udham Singh Nagar districts."

The government decision comes as relief and rescue operations continue in Dharali, Uttarkashi, where flash floods have claimed four lives and left several missing.