By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 28 Jul: Overnight torrential rain wreaked havoc across Dehradun and adjoining areas, late last night and early this morning, severely disrupted normal life and triggered a series of incidents including landslides, road blockages, damage to bridges and retaining walls and widespread waterlogging. The incessant downpour since last night created conditions reminiscent of last year’s monsoon disaster, with transport services widely disrupted and the residents facing considerable hardship across the city and surrounding regions.
One of the most serious incidents was reported from Nanda Ki Chowki, where the approach road to the newly reconstructed bridge partially caved in, affecting vehicular movement and causing traffic disruption. In Gabbar Basti, the collapse of a culvert completely cut off local connectivity, leaving residents stranded. A house also collapsed in the Kath Bangla area, although no casualties were reported.
Heavy rainfall also triggered multiple landslides on the Dehradun-Mussoorie road, severely affecting traffic movement. The worst-hit stretch was beyond the Power House near Hanuman Mandir, where a massive quantity of debris and large boulders came crashing down from the hillside, completely blocking the road. The sudden landslide brought traffic to a standstill, with long queues of vehicles forming on both sides of the road. The tourists as well as local commuters remained stranded for several hours while waiting for the route to reopen.
Soon after receiving information, teams from the police, district administration and the Public Works Department reached the site and launched restoration work. JCB machines were deployed to clear the accumulated debris. However, intermittent rainfall continued to dislodge stones and mud from the hillside, hampering relief and clearance operations. Officials said every effort was being made to restore traffic as soon as weather conditions permitted.
The Maldevta area also witnessed alarming conditions as continuous rain brought large quantities of debris, rocks and boulders onto the road beyond the bridge, damaging a portion of the carriageway and disrupting traffic. The route, which serves both local residents and tourists, remained partially affected, with vehicles being allowed to pass cautiously at some locations. Administrative officials and departmental teams inspected the damaged stretch and initiated debris clearance operations. Authorities said restoring traffic remained the immediate priority, while repair of the damaged road section would be taken up once weather conditions improved.
The swollen river flowing through the Maldevta area presented a frightening sight, causing concern among local residents. The district administration appealed to people to stay away from rivers, streams and other vulnerable areas and to avoid unnecessary travel during the ongoing spell of heavy rain.
The impact of the downpour was visible across Dehradun city as well. A wall collapsed in Govindgarh, while another wall came crashing down near Lal Pul. In the Dalanwala area, retaining walls constructed along the riverbank were damaged, raising concerns over the safety of nearby houses. Reports were also received of cracks developing in protective walls and erosion along riverbanks and seasonal streams at several locations.
Continuous rainfall resulted in extensive waterlogging on major roads and in low-lying localities across the city, slowing traffic and making commuting difficult. Several vehicles became stranded in waterlogged stretches, while pedestrians also faced considerable inconvenience as roads remained submerged. In the capital Dehradun, the highest rainfall of 233 mm was recorded in Maldevta over the last 24 hours.
The authorities have also advised the residents and travellers to check the latest weather and road conditions before undertaking journeys in hilly areas and to rely only on official information issued by the administration and concerned departments. Sensitive locations across the district are being closely monitored, while all departments concerned have been directed to remain on alert to deal with any emergency arising from the continuing monsoon conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that heavy rainfall is likely to continue over the next few days in the district. In view of the prevailing conditions, the district administration has urged people to avoid unnecessary travel, remain away from landslide-prone areas, rivers and seasonal streams, and strictly follow official advisories.
