Garhwal Post Bureau
Pithoragarh, 9 Jul: A cloudburst struck Teejam village, near Umchiya in the Talla Darma Valley of Dharchula late last night, inflicting severe damage and severing vital connectivity as two crucial bridges were washed away amidst torrential rainfall. The sudden surge in the water level of Nehal Gad stream is being held responsible for the extensive havoc that unfolded, leaving the local population distressed and stranded. Over 50 families are reported to be directly affected by the incident.
The disaster swept away a 36 metres long motor bridge constructed under PMGSY at an estimated cost of Rs 2.13 crores and a wooden bridge belonging to the Public Works Department (PWD) that connected Teejam with Watan Tok. The collapse of these bridges has entirely paralysed movement in the area. Over 50 families abandoned their homes upon sensing the rising threat posed by Nehal Gad’s fury and took shelter at a local school and the Gorkha Regiment post, remaining sleepless and anxious throughout the night. Social workers Anil Bisht and Lakshmi Gwal shared that the displacement was a precautionary measure prompted by panic and the worsening weather.
Executive Engineer PMGSY Kishan Singh Airy confirmed that the 36 metres steel truss motor bridge over Nehal Nala at Km 5 of the Sobla–Umchiya motor road has been washed away late last night. The bridge’s support base and around 50 metres of roadway on either side were also completely destroyed. The bridge, weighing 47 tonnes, was swept away by the force of the swollen stream. The wooden pedestrian bridge connecting Teejam to Watan Tok met the same fate, further compounding the region’s isolation.
Additional damage includes landslides that have placed more than eight homes in Bisht Colony under threat, while two electricity poles were washed away, cutting off power supply to the area. No loss of life has been reported thus far, though widespread panic has gripped the villagers. SDM Jitendra Verma informed that a revenue department team has been dispatched to assess the impact on ground.
Residents have recorded videos of the destruction and appealed to the district administration for urgent intervention. Witnesses claim that the bridges were carried nearly one kilometre downstream, leaving no viable base for reconstruction. With hundreds of residents now cut off from the sub-divisional headquarters, appeals have been made for emergency relief measures, including helicopter assistance if required.
It may be recalled that Teejam lies approximately 40 kilometres from Dharchula tehsil and 150 kilometres from the district headquarters in Pithoragarh, with access routes currently blocked. Administrative teams are reported to be en route the affected areas to carry out detailed damage assessments and initiate relief operations.
