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Cloudburst Wreaks Havoc in Dehradun: Two Missing, Rescue Operations Underway

A powerful cloudburst struck Dehradun in the early hours of Tuesday, triggering widespread destruction, including damaged homes, washed-away vehicles, and inundated shops.

  • DY365

DY365

Photograph: (Special Arrangement)
Photograph: (Special Arrangement)

A powerful cloudburst struck Dehradun in the early hours of Tuesday, triggering widespread destruction, including damaged homes, washed-away vehicles, and inundated shops.

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Two individuals remain missing, prompting urgent rescue and relief efforts to locate them.

The disaster occurred late Monday night, forcing the administration to relocate affected residents to safer areas.

District Magistrate Savin Bansal, Sub Divisional Magistrate Kumkum Joshi, and other officials promptly arrived at the scene to assess the damage. Bansal instructed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Public Works Department (PWD), and other teams to prioritise the search for the missing persons. Heavy machinery, including bulldozers, has been deployed to aid the ongoing operations.

In response to the crisis, all schools in Dehradun from Class 1 to 12 have been closed until further notice, as per an order from the District Magistrate.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that he is closely monitoring the situation, maintaining constant communication with officials on the ground. 

In a statement posted on X, he said, "Heavy rainfall caused significant damage to shops in Sahastradhara, Dehradun, late last night. The district administration, SDRF, and police are actively engaged in relief and rescue efforts. I am personally overseeing the response to ensure swift action."

Several parts of Dehradun, including the IT Park and Premnagar, are submerged due to relentless rainfall. The Dehradun-Haridwar National Highway also suffered damage, with a bridge partially destroyed. At Dev Bhoomi Institute, Ponda, on the Dehradun-Vikasnagar road, a group of students trapped by waterlogging was safely evacuated by the SDRF. Additionally, the NDRF rescued an individual stranded on an electricity pole in the swollen River Tons.

In Rishikesh, the River Chandrabhaga has been in spate since Tuesday morning, flooding the nearby highway and trapping three people. The SDRF successfully rescued them.

Elsewhere in Uttarakhand, a massive landslide in Pithoragarh district has blocked a key road, causing significant traffic disruptions. Authorities are working to clear the debris and restore access.