At least eight people have died in Uttarakhand in the past 24 hours as relentless monsoon rain triggered landslides, house collapses and flash-flood-like conditions across several districts. The downpour has also intensified concerns over land subsidence and soil erosion in Rudraprayag, where cracks have appeared in homes, roads and agricultural land.
Five of the reported deaths occurred in Almora district in two separate rain-related incidents. Two Nepali labourers were killed after debris from a hillside brought down the wall of a tin shed in the Dhar Ki Tuni area. Earlier, three people died after mud and rubble crashed into a house in Vadyura village in Someshwar block.
Describing the incident involving the two labourers, District Disaster Management Officer Vineet Pal said, “Continuous rain loosened a large mass of debris from the hillside, causing the tin shed to collapse.” The two workers were reportedly asleep inside when the structure collapsed.
The heavy rain also caused widespread disruption in Almora, with debris entering houses and dozens of roads being blocked. Authorities said unstable slopes and continuing rainfall were making rescue and road-clearance operations more difficult.
In Dehradun, swollen seasonal streams created flood-like conditions, with water entering several homes in Herbertpur and Vikasnagar. Police, residents and rescue teams joined efforts to evacuate people, while tractors were used to reach those stranded by rising water levels.
A rain-fed current in Premnagar also swept away a Hyundai Creta. Rescue personnel pulled an injured woman from the vehicle, while the bodies of a young man and another woman were recovered.
State Disaster Response Force Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi said authorities had stepped up surveillance across vulnerable areas. “SDRF teams equipped with modern rescue gear have been stationed at all vulnerable locations for relief and rescue operations,” he said.
Land subsidence raises fresh concern in Rudraprayag
Meanwhile, persistent land subsidence and soil erosion have caused alarm in Kimana-Dankot village in Rudraprayag’s Basukedar tehsil. Several houses have developed cracks, while cattle sheds, toilets and agricultural fields have also been damaged.
The shifting ground has damaged portions of the Jakhali-Bhiri motor road, restricting movement and making it difficult for villagers to access essential supplies and healthcare. Subsidence has also damaged drinking-water pipelines at multiple locations, creating shortages for residents.
Former block chief Pradeep Thapliyal has called for immediate relief, a technical assessment of the land movement and a scientific survey of vulnerable areas. He also warned that temporary repairs would not be enough and urged authorities to implement permanent safety measures.
Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said the administration was providing assistance and had directed departments to expedite repairs to damaged roads while continuing to monitor affected areas.
Authorities have advised pilgrims, tourists and commuters to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly on landslide-prone roads and near swollen rivers and seasonal streams. Control rooms are monitoring vulnerable settlements, while police, SDRF and disaster-management teams remain engaged in rescue and relief operations.
With heavy rain continuing in parts of Uttarakhand, authorities are focusing on evacuating residents from vulnerable locations, restoring connectivity to cut-off areas and preventing further loss of life.
