Rescue operations underway as heavy rainfall leads to widespread destruction in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
In Dehradun district of Uttarakhand, at least five individuals were swept away following heavy rainfall that caused significant flooding and landslides. The India Meteorological Department had issued a red alert early on Tuesday, cautioning residents about the potential for extremely heavy rain, flash floods, and landslides throughout the state. The torrential downpour led to extensive damage, prompting immediate rescue operations.
Rescue efforts in Dehradun have been initiated by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Public Works Department. The SDRF reported that they had successfully rescued over 200 individuals, including students from the Shri Dev Bhoomi Institute. The situation in the Karligad area of Sahastradhara was particularly dire, with several shops being washed away and a portion of the Maldevta bridge collapsing, which disrupted traffic on the Mussorie-Dehradun road.
Additionally, a section of a bridge in Premnagar on the Dehradun-Paonta National Highway also faced collapse due to the severe weather conditions. In response to the increased risk of landslides and flash floods, Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal issued a circular advising both residents and tourists to avoid travel to Mussoorie until the roads are cleared. Schools in the district were closed for the day as a precautionary measure given the prevailing conditions.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the affected areas to assess the damage. He expressed his commitment to the safety of all impacted families, stating that relief and rescue operations were being conducted with urgency. His message on social media emphasized the importance of providing assistance during this challenging time.
Meanwhile, in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, three individuals were killed due to landslides triggered by heavy overnight rainfall on Monday. The landslide occurred in the Nehri area of the Sundernagar subdivision. According to Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, two persons were rescued from the site of the incident. The heavy rainfall in the region also caused flooding in the Son and Bharand drains in the Dharampur area.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri highlighted the damage caused by the weather, noting that approximately two dozen buses from the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) and the bus stand complex had sustained severe damage. He reported that the Dharampur depot was left in ruins, with significant destruction to the corporation’s pump house, workshop shed, and shops, although all corporation employees were safe.
In Shimla, a landslide near Himland buried several vehicles and obstructed the main circular road. The State Emergency Operation Centre reported that around 650 roads, including three national highways, remained blocked, while over 1,200 power transformers and 160 water supply schemes were affected by the heavy rains. Since June of this year, Himachal Pradesh has experienced heavy rainfall, leading to over 400 fatalities in the state, with many of these deaths attributed to rain-related incidents and road accidents.
