Chamoli, Aug. 11 -- A sudden and powerful cloudburst has struck the Tamak region of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, sweeping away a recently constructed bridge of the Border Roads Organisation and severing connectivity to the strategically sensitive Niti Valley along the India-China border.Breaking news alerts

The disaster unfolded on Monday when a massive surge of water, mud and debris tore through the Tamak nala, located around 37 kilometres ahead of Joshimath. Eyewitness accounts and visuals from the site show the sheer force of the flash flood, which reportedly swept away several vehicles that were parked or moving through the area at the time.

The bridge, which connected Joshimath to the Niti and Malari regions, collapsed under th...