Continuous heavy rainfall since Saturday night has disrupted normal life across Uttarakhand.
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the suspension of the Char Dham Yatra for a day due to safety concerns, citing the risk posed by intense rainfall and ongoing rescue operations. “A major incident has occurred in Uttarkashi, where nine labourers are reported missing. SDRF teams are carrying out rescue operations continuously,” he said.
“A red alert has been issued due to heavy rainfall across the state,” he said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert through June 30. Dehradun and adjoining hill districts are experiencing flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage, with officials urging residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate. IMD Dehradun Director Dr. Vikram Singh echoed the urgency, warning of “heavy to very heavy rainfall” across the state. He advised those living in landslide-prone or riverbank areas to move to safer locations immediately.
On Sunday, in Dehradun’s Kargi Grant locality, two houses collapsed under the pressure of rain-swollen soil near a riverbank. Police said at least 10 other homes were evacuated as a precaution. Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh and SP City Pramod Kumar supervised emergency response efforts alongside fire services and personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary.
The deluge also impacted infrastructure. A section of road near the Malsi Zoo culvert collapsed, forcing authorities to barricade the area and divert heavy vehicles. Tourists headed to Mussoorie have been advised to take alternate routes.
As swollen rivers overflowed and water entered homes across low-lying parts of Dehradun, panic spread among residents. With weather forecasts predicting more rain, district officials remain on high alert. The state machinery is coordinating with disaster response teams to manage the unfolding situation and prevent further casualties or damage.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by our editors.
Image Source: Flickr/Dehradun Valley from Landour/Wikimedia Commons
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