By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Behind the devastation in Chepadon market in the disaster-hit Tharali in Uttarakhand was a small bridge that blocked the flow of Toonari Gaad (stream) which had turned monstrous after the incessant rains that began on Friday night.
In the dead of the night, big boulders and debris began hitting the bridge. The flow of the swollen Toonari Gaad was blocked by big boulders and trees that came with the flash floods. In the next half an hour, a temporary lake was formed.
Soon, the lake burst a wall and gushing water of Toonari Gad changed its natural course turning towards the Chepadon market where a group of worried villagers had descended. Some of them had come to take away their parked vehicles to safer areas.
“As the flash floods struck, we ran toward the market side to move our vehicles which were parked there to safe areas,” said Prithvi Singh Rawat of Chepadon village, an eyewitness to the whole horrific scene. The market is only 100-meter down from Chepadon village. Lakshmi Prasad Joshi also narrated a similar story saying his two shops in the market were completely destroyed.
After seeing the ferocity of the torrent, both Joshi and Rawat along with other villagers ran to safety. Their every stride was faster than before. A total of 25-30 odd villagers were present in the market when the flash floods struck. Most of the villagers managed to escape.
But at least 5-6 people got stuck in the floods. Sadly, Ganga Dutt Joshi (75) went missing. Fortunately, other 5 villagers managed to come out of the mudslides some with grave and minor injuries.
Nearly 18 shops in the market belonging to villagers were also damaged in the floods. Some vehicles were also damaged. The market was devastated but the village remained unharmed.
However, when the villagers woke up in the morning, the small bridge which stopped the flow of Toonari Gaad, had disappeared.