Rain wreaks havoc in Mussoorie

By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 16 Sep: Nature wreaked havoc in Mussoorie late on Monday night causing people to spend the night in fear and helplessness.
The torrential rain caused such devastation that the Mussoorie-Dehradun national highway came to a complete standstill at about 18 places. The bridge built above the Shiva temple was completely damaged, due to which all types of contact between the two cities was cut off.
All the roads going to and from Dehradun to Mussoorie are either broken or filled with debris. Heavy landslides have engulfed the hill roads. Mussoorie police and municipal administration announced through loudspeakers throughout the day that people should not travel. Police have completely stopped traffic with barricading at Kuthal Gate. Areas along the Dehradun Road are now cut off. Trees have fallen at many places, electricity poles have been uprooted, due to which there is darkness and power crisis in many areas.
The landslide near Paniwala Bend wreaked havoc on restaurants and shops. The Pawar Restaurant developed such deep cracks that it had to be evacuated immediately. The road below Kolukhet was completely washed away, another restaurant came under the debris.
There has been heavy destruction near the waterfall above Kolukhet. The waterfall took the form of a river and the main road was also completely damaged. There are so many deep potholes and cracks on Jharpani Road with houses now seem to be hanging over the edge of the hillside.
The most poignant scene of this disaster came to light when Virendra, a resident of Mussoorie, was taking his brother’s body to Dehradun for the last rites, but the ambulance got stuck near Kolukhet due to the closure of the road. The family was forced to carry the body on their shoulders and walk down temporary paths to Kuthal Gate.
Two Nepali labourers were buried under the debris in the Kolukhet landslide, one of whom died on the spot. Debris fell on a house in Makreti Village, killing two more people.
Due to broken roads, hundreds of tourists and locals have been forced to walk 8 to 13 kilometres towards Dehradun. Carrying children in their arms, supporting the elderly, people are passing through mud, debris and cracking ground.
A tourist said, “We had left to catch the train in Dehradun, but now the whole family is just taking the name of God while descending the mountain. We have never felt such fear.”
SDM, Mussoorie, Rahul Anand said that the situation is very serious. The roads are completely damaged. Rescue and relief work is going on at a fast pace, but it will take time to normalise the situation.
Municipal President Meera Saklani also reached the spot and said that the government and administration are fully active, but permanent solutions are needed.