Dehradun district in Uttarakhand has been placed under a red alert Tuesday as heavy rain battered the region, triggering landslides in several areas and causing rivers to swell. At least five people have reportedly been swept away in Tapkeshwar, DIT College area, Rajpur Shikhar Falls, and Bhagat Singh Colony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday about the situation, the state government said. “They assured the state of all possible assistance and said the Centre stands firmly with Uttarakhand in this hour of disaster,” said the government communication.
Multiple rescue operations are underway by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), as well as teams from the Public Works Department (PWD) even as schools remain closed. In Sahastradhara’s Karligad, several shops were washed away in the downpour. Officials with the district administration said residents were evacuated to safe locations during the night.
The red alert was issued around 5 am on Tuesday by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Dehradun, and the Disaster Alert Portal of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), along with a forecast for heavy to very heavy rain, thunder accompanied by lightning, and spells of intense to extremely intense rain.
In view of the current weather across the district, there is an increased likelihood of landslides and flash floods in sensitive areas, which may lead to untoward incidents, stated a circular issued by Savin Bansal, District Magistrate, citing the IMD.
Meanwhile, many routes have been affected. A bridge at Maldevta was washed away, disrupting traffic, and the flow of debris has blocked several sections of the Mussoorie–Dehradun Road. The police, along with other departments, are working to clear the route.
The district administration has, however, advised tourists traveling to Mussoorie not to use the road until it is reopened. A portion of the bridge in Premnagar on the Dehradun–Paonta National Highway has collapsed, resulting in complete disruption of traffic on this route.
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On Tuesday morning, the SDRF rescued several people trapped in the swollen Chandrabhaga River after their vehicles got stuck in the water body. The force also rescued people from Sahaspur and Thakurpur.
