'Ray Of Hope': Trapped Under Debris, Uttarakhand Man Pulled Out Alive After 16 Hours

In a remarkable rescue operation, a man was pulled out alive after being trapped under debris for over 16 hours in Nandanagar, as confirmed by Chamoli police on Friday. Rescue and relief operations continue in disaster-affected areas following devastating rains and a cloudburst in Uttarakhand.

Chamoli Police reported that rescue operations in Nandanagar entered their second day on Friday. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police forces are persistently working to locate and rescue individuals trapped beneath the debris in both Kuntari and Dhurma villages.

Sharing the successful rescue on social media platform X, Chamoli Police described it as a "Victory of life in the Nandanagar disaster," noting that "amid the severe disaster in Nandanagar, a ray of hope emerged today when a person was pulled out alive after being trapped in the debris for nearly 16 hours."

Earlier that day, the Public Works Department constructed a temporary Bailey bridge on the Dehradun-Mussoorie Highway to replace the damaged structure near the Shiva Temple. Currently, the district administration is only allowing small vehicles to travel along this route.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the affected areas in Raipur and Mussoorie assembly constituencies to assess the situation firsthand and monitor ongoing relief and rescue operations.

In statements to reporters, CM Dhami revealed that more than 200 people were affected by the disaster that struck late Wednesday night. He detailed that approximately 35 houses were damaged, 20 people sustained injuries, and at least 14 individuals remain unaccounted for following the cloudburst in Chamoli district.

"Around 35 houses have been damaged due to a cloudburst. Around 20 people are injured, and 14 others are missing. 200 people have been affected by the disaster last night in Chamoli. All rescue teams have reached there," stated the Chief Minister. He confirmed that district officials are on site, injured victims have been transported to hospitals, and those with severe injuries will be transferred to AIIMS Rishikesh.

The Chief Minister further emphasized that damaged infrastructure is being repaired as a priority. He noted that all relevant agencies across districts have been directed to remain on high alert throughout September until the monsoon season officially concludes.

While acknowledging that the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage continues, CM Dhami appealed to devotees to plan their journey according to weather forecasts provided by the Indian Meteorological Department.

The cloudburst has triggered flash floods and landslides across multiple areas of Chamoli, resulting in extensive infrastructure damage and disruption to livelihoods. Authorities have established relief camps for displaced families, while search operations continue intensively throughout the affected regions.