A cloudburst struck Uttarakhand’s capital, Dehradun, on Monday night, triggering flash floods and widespread destruction. Continuous heavy rainfall submerged houses in Tapovan, flooded the IT Park and Sahastradhara, and caused severe waterlogging across the city. Two people have gone missing, while multiple shops and properties have suffered extensive damage.
The Karligaad rivulet swelled dangerously, collapsing a key bridge and devastating areas along its banks. Scary visuals captured vehicles being swept away and the Tamsa river inundating the Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple by early Tuesday morning. The river deposited debris inside the temple premises, and although the shrine reported no human casualties, authorities advised people to stay away from riverbanks.
Rescue operations began immediately, led by the District Magistrate, SDRF, NDRF, and police teams, who worked through the night to evacuate residents and search for the missing. Authorities deployed heavy machinery, including bulldozers, to clear debris and restore connectivity where roads and bridges collapsed.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed damage to several shops and assured that the state government is closely monitoring the situation.He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who pledged full support and assured central assistance to Uttarakhand. Authorities are conducting relief and rescue efforts at high speed with central assistance.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Dehradun and Tehri Garhwal till 9 am Tuesday, warning of further heavy rainfall. Authorities have urged residents to remain indoors and avoid venturing near rivers and streams.
Dehradun continues to battle rising water levels, collapsed infrastructure, and damaged marketplaces. For now, the focus remains on rescuing stranded people, providing relief, and restoring normalcy in the flood-hit city.