By Srijita Chakraborty
Uttarakhand is suffering massive losses owing to torrential rains and landslides. The retreating monsoon showers have claimed at least 17 lives, leaving 13 people missing in Dehradun and nearby regions.
Cloudbursts and heavy downpours since Monday night have swept away roads, bridges, and homes, while rivers like Asan, Bindal, and Rispana are on the verge of overflowing. According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), victims lost their lives to swollen rivers or were buried under debris. The district administration has confirmed 13 deaths, three injuries, and 13 missing so far.
Maldevta, Sahasradhara, and Karligaad, are a few of the majorly impacted areas where hotels, shops, and houses were submerged or destroyed. A student at Green Valley PG near DIT College was killed after a wall collapsed. Landslides in Mussoorie and rockfalls along the Kalsi-Chakrata road have also claimed lives. The Mussoorie-Dehradun road was closed at several points and a key bridge near Nanda ki Chowki was washed away. This has gravely affected connectivity,
Rescue teams from SDRF and NDRF are working tirelessly, rescuing 200 stranded students from Devbhoomi Institute and shifting people to safe zones. Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear debris and aid relief operations.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has inspected affected zones, promising full government support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reviewed the situation with the CM.
The floods have resulted in widespread infrastructural damage, including 13 bridges, 21 roads, and multiple water supply schemes. Since April, natural disasters in Uttarakhand have claimed 87 lives, which calls for better preparation in disaster management to safeguard the vulnerable demographic from calamities.