A Bailey bridge over the Tamak drain in Niti Valley, Uttarakhand, was washed away by floodwaters on Monday evening, severing road links to about a dozen villages and the border area. A Border Roads Organisation driver was reported missing after being swept away when the bridge collapsed while he was observing the rising water. Officials said a vehicle was also carried off in the flood. Relief and rescue teams were dispatched to the site. The bridge was on the Malari-Niti National Highway that connects Jyotirmath, or Joshimath, with the frontier area and was washed away after a sudden rise in the Tamak drain, officials said. District, state and National Disaster Response Force teams reached the location to assist search and assess damage. Vehicular movement from Malari was suspended as a precaution while authorities evaluated conditions. The collapse cut off access to villages including Jumma and Niti, leaving communities isolated and reliant on aerial or longer road routes for supplies. The BRO has begun work on alternative arrangements and officials said traffic might be restored within a day or two. The Joshimath–Niti route has been repeatedly disrupted in recent years by floods and landslides that deposit debris in the Tamak drain and on adjacent slopes. The state chief minister ordered relief and rescue operations and directed precautionary measures in lower areas that may be affected by runoff. He instructed officials to ensure supplies of ration, food and medicines reach surrounding villages despite road disruptions. Police made announcements urging people to stay away from rivers and drains and to follow safety advisories. The Meteorological Department's Hydrometeorological Division issued a flash flood risk bulletin for the next 24 hours, warning of mild to moderate flash floods in catchments across a dozen districts. The state disaster management secretary said the system was on full alert and appealed to residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from streams, ravines and rainwater channels. Officials urged vigilance as river inflows could increase in the short term.