Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 29 Jun: Dehradun is among the worst affected regions in Uttarakhand as continuous and intense rainfall has severely disrupted normal life. In the Kargi Grant area, two houses situated near the riverbank collapsed under the force of the downpour, though fortunately no casualties were reported. Upon receiving information, police and Fire Service personnel swiftly arrived at the site and initiated relief and rescue operations. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajai Singh also reached the location to review the situation and issued orders to evacuate nearby houses to ensure the safety of residents, who are being moved to safer areas.
In light of the Meteorological Department’s warning and the continuous rainfall across the district, District Magistrate Savin Bansal has instructed all officials associated with the Incident Response System (IRS) to remain on high alert and diligently carry out their duties. He has specifically directed them to ensure there is no waterlogging in urban areas, proper drainage of rainwater, continuous monitoring of waterlogged zones, and smooth management of traffic.
The Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rain alert for Dehradun district for the next two days. Dehradun has been witnessing unrelenting rainfall since late Saturday night. The collapse of the two riverside houses in Kargi Grant prompted immediate action, with teams from Kotwali Patel Nagar and Fire Services conducting emergency response efforts. SSP Ajai Singh and SP City Pramod Kumar assessed the situation on the ground and, in view of public safety, the SSP directed evacuation of ten nearby houses. PAC personnel have also been deployed to manage crowds and maintain order in the area.
Elsewhere, several houses and shops in the Inamullah Building area also suffered serious damage. Traffic flow has been affected on the Mussoorie road at several locations. Near the Malsi Zoo, the retaining wall of the culvert has given way, and the zoo has been closed temporarily for safety reasons. Heavy vehicles travelling to Mussoorie are now being diverted via Rajpur and onward through Kuthal Gate. Landslides have further disrupted the Mussoorie Road near Galogi, while a four-storey building near Kirsali Chowki on Sahastradhara Road has developed cracks, leading the police to evacuate the structure. Authorities have also sounded alerts for people residing along riverbanks and streams, urging caution.
In Doiwala’s Majri Grant area, several homes have experienced water ingress due to overflowing irrigation canals and the breakdown of existing drainage systems, a consequence of unauthorised plotting. Water logging was also reported in Bhaniawala on the Rishikesh main road. In Khairi Khurd village near Rishikesh, multiple homes were submerged due to waterlogging earlier today, prompting an SDRF team to extend assistance.
With the water level of the Ganga rising at Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh, both the SDRF and the police teams remain on high alert at the riverfront. Police are actively warning citizens against venturing near the ghats. In Jaunsar Bawar, landslides triggered by the rains have disrupted traffic on four key motor roads. On the Chakrata Lakhamandal Khabau motor road under PWD Chakrata, roadblocks have formed at kilometre 14 and 17 due to heavy debris. Similarly, traffic on the Pyunal motor road under PMGSY Kalsi is stalled at kilometre three and seven.
The Bosan motor road, which had only recently been cleared yesterday, is again closed at kilometre one, while the Meghatu motor road remains blocked at kilometre two and four. The impact of these closures has been severe for around twenty villages, where normal movement has been curtailed and farmers are unable to transport their produce to local mandis, incurring significant losses. Meanwhile, river Yamuna’s water level at the Dakpathar Barrage continues to hover at the danger mark for the third consecutive day, further exacerbating concerns across the region.
