Garhwal Post Bureau
Mussoorie, 9 Jul: Continuous torrential rain on Thursday severely disrupted daily life in Mussoorie, today. Residents faced significant difficulties across various parts of the town due to intermittent heavy rainfall throughout the day. Traffic was affected by waterlogging, debris sliding from hillsides, and falling trees. In view of the severe weather conditions, the administration has urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and remain vigilant. During the downpour, a massive tree suddenly collapsed onto the Mussoorie-Dehradun road near the Chingri petrol pump. Fortunately, no vehicles were caught under the tree, averting a major accident. The fallen tree completely blocked traffic for a while and disrupted the local power supply. Upon receiving the information, teams from the local administration, the Public Works Department (PWD), and other relevant departments rushed to the scene. Workers cut and removed the tree from the road, restoring the flow of traffic. The electricity department also began repair work on the damaged power lines. Amidst the incessant rain, reports of landslides and debris slides—ranging from minor to major—were received from various parts of the town. The administration is closely monitoring the situation, and surveillance has been stepped up in vulnerable areas to ensure an immediate response to any emergency.
Meanwhile, according to the latest forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Disaster Alert Portal, a ‘Red Alert’ has been issued for Dehradun district for the next 24 hours, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall, lightning, and the possibility of extremely intense downpours in some areas. Mussoorie SDM Rahul Anand stated that, in view of the Meteorological Department’s warning, District Magistrate and District Disaster Management Authority Chairman Dr Ashish Chauhan has declared a one-day holiday on Friday, 10 July, as a precautionary measure. This applies to all government, government-aided, and private schools (Classes 1 to 12) as well as all Anganwadi centres in the Dehradun district. Instructions have been issued to the Chief Education Officer and the District Programme Officer to ensure 100% compliance with this order. The administration has appealed to the public to avoid rivers, streams, landslide-prone areas, and unnecessary travel in the hills. Additionally, people have been asked to immediately inform the District Disaster Control Room or relevant administrative officials in the event of any disaster-related situation. Given the continuous rainfall and the ‘Red Alert’ status, the administration is on high alert, and instructions have been issued to all concerned departments to remain vigilant around the clock.
