Watch: Uttarakhand BRO bridge swept away after cloudburst near India-China border
New Delhi: A bridge in Uttarakhand’s Niti Valley was swept away within seconds after strong river currents surged through the area following heavy rain, cutting the region off from the main town.
A video showed a large volume of muddy water rushing downstream before crashing into the metal bridge in Chamoli district. The force of the current quickly uprooted the structure and pushed it towards the riverbank.
The footage also showed a truck and an SUV travelling on a road beside the river. Both vehicles turned away just before the bridge was washed away.
Area cut off after bridge collapse
With the bridge destroyed, connectivity with the main town was disrupted. Authorities have advised people against travelling in the area until weather conditions improve and an official all-clear is issued.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Tamak drain overflows, damaging the bridge built over it beyond Malari, disrupting traffic. No report of any loss of life so far. Police, administration, SDRF, and NDRF teams were dispatched to the scene. The situation is being continuously monitored:… pic.twitter.com/OolnGr61rf
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 10, 2026
Residents living close to rivers and streams have also been asked to maintain a safe distance. Officials warned that water levels could rise further as heavy rain continues across the state.
Rain continues across Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said rainfall had continued without a break since Sunday night. Dehradun, Bageshwar, Nainital and Champawat are among the affected districts.
“It will rain in the entire state. And the rain will continue continuously. There will be a gap of some time in the evening. After this, like it rained last night, it will rain again like this in the night,” Suman told news agency ANI.
Officials are also carrying out awareness programmes in areas vulnerable to landslides and telling residents how to stay safe during heavy rain.
The administration has urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and remain alert, particularly near rivers, streams and other areas vulnerable to sudden increases in water levels. Further rainfall could worsen conditions in parts of the hill state making caution important for residents and travellers, as officials continue to monitor the situation closely.