By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Two people were killed and six missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods early Thursday in Nandanagar area of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand.
However, five people were rescued from the debris following a swift rescue operation in Nandanagar which was recently in news due to the land subsidence causing cracks in many houses.
Forty-five houses and some shops were also damaged in flash floods. Besides, some 200 people were also evacuated from the area, an official report said.
As the disaster struck early morning in Kuntari-Lagalafi village in Nandanagar, rescuers dug rubbles and brought alive four people including two women and a child.
In Dhurma village, one person was rescued. But one person was still missing.
In Kuntari village, one person died and another went missing in the flash floods.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that various agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and police, were engaged in rescue and relief operations.
He stated that the Chamoli District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, and other senior officials had reached the site. He added that local MLA Bhupal Ram Tamta and some local residents were also involved in relief and rescue operations.
The Chief Minister stated that some of the injured were taken to nearby hospitals, while the seriously injured were being immediately transferred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh. He stated that these included a child with head injuries.
He stated that some people in the affected area were still trapped in their homes and efforts were underway to evacuate them. The Chief Minister stated, “Our effort is to ensure everyone is evacuated to safety.”
Responding to a question, Dhami stated that all districts, disaster management personnel, and all agencies, including the NDRF and SDRF, have been instructed to remain on alert until the monsoon season has completely subsided. He said that constant contact is being maintained with the Meteorological Department and precautions are being taken as per their forecast.
Meanwhile, the Chamoli District Disaster Management Center has released a list of eight people, including four members of a family and a couple, missing from Kuntri Laga Phali village, and two missing people from Dhurma village.
Uttarakhand has been badly hit by a series of natural disasters this monsoon season. Just two days ago, a cloudburst and heavy rains caused massive flooding and landslides in Dehradun, killing 21 people and leaving 17 others missing.
Referring to the disaster in Dehradun, the Chief Minister said that efforts are underway to restore blocked roads and disrupted power and water supply. He stated that many facilities have already been restored.
He stated, “The safety of every pilgrim is our top priority.” Our full effort is to ensure a safe and smooth journey for all pilgrims.
The Chief Minister stated that Uttarakhand, like every other part of the world, is also being affected by global warming. He stated that his government will seek the cooperation of scientific institutions and conduct studies and surveys to minimize the damage caused by disasters.
