Dehradun: At least eight people have died in Uttarakhand over the past 24 hours as relentless monsoon rains triggered landslides, house collapses and flash floods across multiple districts. In Rudraprayag, persistent land subsidence and severe soil erosion have cracked homes, damaged cattle sheds and toilets, and ruined farmland that families have cultivated for decades, officials said on Tuesday.
The worst of the fatalities were reported from Almora and Dehradun districts, where hours of heavy downpour buried labourers in debris, smashed houses with mud and rubble, and swept away vehicles in raging currents. Even as rescue teams battled blocked roads and unstable slopes to reach cut-off areas, the shifting earth in Rudraprayag’s Kimana-Dankot village has intensified fears of a deeper crisis, with drinking water pipelines snapped and key road stretches rendered impassable.
“Continuous rain loosened a large mass of debris from the hillside, causing the tin shed to collapse. The two Nepali workers, who were asleep inside, were trapped and died,” District Disaster Management Officer Vineet Pal said. District Magistrate Anshul Singh oversaw the rescue operation with local teams.
Heavy showers also dumped debris onto houses and blocked dozens of roads in Almora, disrupting traffic and daily life. Authorities said unstable slopes and ongoing rain were making clearance and rescue efforts more difficult across the hilly terrain.
Car Swept Away in Dehradun
In Dehradun district, intense rainfall swelled seasonal streams, creating flood-like conditions. Water rushed into several homes in Herbertpur and Vikasnagar, prompting a joint evacuation by police and residents. Tractors were pressed into service to pull people stranded as drains and rivers rose abruptly.
In Premnagar, a Hyundai Creta was carried away by a powerful rain-fed current. Rescue workers pulled an injured woman to safety, but the bodies of a young man and another young woman were later recovered. Details of the eighth death were not immediately available.
“With rain-related emergencies affecting several districts, instructions have been issued for heightened surveillance. SDRF teams equipped with modern rescue gear have been stationed at all vulnerable locations for relief and rescue operations,” State Disaster Response Force Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi told The New Indian Express.
Subsidence Hits Homes, Water Line
In Rudraprayag’s Basukedar tehsil, Kimana-Dankot village has turned into a monsoon hotspot as land subsidence cracks homes, damages cattle sheds and toilets, and degrades fields cultivated for decades. Residents fear conditions could worsen during heavy rain without urgent preventive action.
The shifting earth has broken stretches of the Jakhali-Bhiri motor road between Binoba Dhar bend and Kimana-Dankot, severely restricting movement. Villagers say accessing essentials, healthcare and daily services has become increasingly difficult.
Thapliyal urged the Public Works Department to restore traffic immediately, warning that temporary patchwork at vulnerable points would not suffice. He called for a permanent, scientifically guided solution and cautioned that delays in safety measures could trigger a graver crisis.
Subsidence has also snapped the village’s drinking water pipeline at multiple points, worsening shortages. Residents have demanded prompt repairs and restoration of supply.
Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said the administration was extending all possible assistance. Departments have been directed to repair damaged roads swiftly, while officials continue to monitor affected zones.
Authorities have issued a travel advisory, asking pilgrims, tourists and commuters to avoid unnecessary travel on landslide-prone hill roads and near swollen watercourses. Schools in affected areas have been shut as a precaution. Control rooms are coordinating with police, SDRF and disaster teams, urging residents near rivers, drains and unstable slopes to stay alert and follow evacuation orders.