In Chamoli, 3 Family Members Hit by Rockfall. Mother died

A massive rockfall struck just outside the Patalganga tunnel in Joshimath subdivision of Chamoli district, burying a family’s Maruti Baleno under tons of debris and killing the lady passenger instantly.

The vehicle carrying a family from Fatehabad in Haryana was returning from the Char Dham pilgrimage when heavy boulders tumbled down without warning, trapping all three occupants beneath a mass of stones and soil

Rescue teams along with district police, reached the site within minutes of the distress call. They extricated a critically injured man and his 10-year-old daughter from the wreckage and rushed them to a nearby hospital, but were unable to revive the female driver.

Victims

• Fatality: Shilpa (36), died on the spot under the debris
• Injuries:
  • Ankit, her husband, sustained serious injuries and remains under treatment.
  • Their daughter Khwahish (10) was also critically injured and is receiving medical care.

Monsoon Risks and Advisories

Chamoli district has recorded unusually heavy rainfall this monsoon season, with Chamoli tehsil reporting 93.66 mm in a 24-hour period, the highest in the region intensifying slope instability along the Badrinath Highway corridor. Authorities have urged pilgrims and travelers to avoid non-essential journeys, monitor live updates from Chamoli Police and the Chardham Control Room and report any signs of slope movement immediately.

During the monsoon months, the Char Dham Yatra route routinely faces hazards from rockfalls and landslides near Patalganga and Pipalkoti. Recurring incidents this season have repeatedly blocked the Badrinath National Highway and disrupted traffic for hours, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced slope monitoring and disaster-management strategies in Uttarakhand’s hill districts.

This tragic occurrence highlights the unpredictable dangers posed by monsoon-induced rockfalls in Himalayan terrains and reinforces calls for heightened vigilance, robust early-warning systems, and improved traveler advisories in vulnerable regions.

– Story Aaj

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Also Read : Pipalkoti landslide after heavy rain blocks Badrinath highway