Rescue Teams Battered by Deadly Cloudburst in Uttarakhand

As of August 8th, 2025, rescue operations are still ongoing in the Uttarakhand region following a devastating cloudburst incident. At least a dozen injured individuals, including villagers and Army personnel who were part of the second line of response, are currently receiving treatment in hospitals across the state.

Among the cases referred to higher medical centers in Dehradun is a Lieutenant Colonel undergoing treatment for fractures in his left leg and blunt force injuries. Another patient remains in critical condition at AIIMS Rishikesh with a life-threatening condition called pneumothorax, where broken ribs have pierced the lungs, causing air to leak into the chest cavity.

Many of those admitted were part of the rescue teams when they were swept away by the raging mix of water, stones, and silt, being thrown nearly 150 meters. Doctors at AIIMS and Uttarkashi have confirmed that most of the victims suffered blunt injuries to the chest, head, and legs. In some cases, medical professionals were shocked to find sand and tiny stones deep inside the patients' tracts, lungs, and wounds.

Despite the challenges, the doctors in Uttarkashi have reported that all the patients under their care are now stable. During the surgeries, they were able to extract the mud, pebbles, and silt from the victims' injuries. The disaster has also taken a significant mental toll on the survivors, with a psychiatrist on the treatment team noting that they are under immense stress, feeling fearful, sad, and confused, but slowly coping as the days pass.