Torrential rains wreak havoc in Uttarakhand: Orange alert for heavy rainfall in six districts, including Dehradun.
Dehradun. The relentless deluge battering the hill state of Uttarakhand shows no signs of abating. Continuous torrential rain and thunderstorms—affecting the plains and Uttar Pradesh alongside the hilly regions—have completely disrupted normal life. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘Orange Alert’ for six major districts of the state, including Dehradun, warning of extremely heavy rainfall today.
Heavy downpours that began late last night in the capital, Dehradun, are continuing unabated at the time of writing. The rain has caused a surge of water across the city’s rivers, drains, and roads, leading to water entering homes in several residential areas. Citing waterlogging and serious safety concerns, the Dehradun district administration has declared a holiday for all educational institutions in the district today.
Torrential Rain Batters Dehradun Overnight; Water Enters Homes
Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms has been lashing the capital, Dehradun, and its surrounding areas since late last night. The rainfall was so intense that city roads turned into streams within a few hours.
Waterlogging in Residential Colonies: Floodwaters entered homes in Dehradun’s low-lying and riverside areas. Roads were submerged under 2 to 3 feet of water in localities such as Kanwali Road, Patel Nagar, Premnagar, the lower sections of Rajpur Road, and Nanurkheda.
Damage to Household Goods: With water suddenly entering homes late at night, sleeping residents were forced to seek shelter in safer locations. Electronic appliances, food grains, and furniture in many households were ruined after being submerged in water.
Rivers in Spate: The Rispana and Bindal rivers are once again flowing near the danger mark. Due to the rising water levels, residents living in slums and settlements along the riverbanks have been warned to relocate to safer areas. Major Decision by District Administration: All Schools in Dehradun Closed Today
In view of continuous heavy rainfall, waterlogging on roads, and the risk of potential landslides, the District Magistrate (DM) of Dehradun has taken a significant decision in the interest of public safety and student well-being.
According to the official order issued by the district administration, a holiday has been declared today for all government, non-government, council-run, and private schools (Classes 1 to 12), as well as all Anganwadi centers, within the Dehradun district.
The District Magistrate has instructed the Chief Education Officer (CEO) and the Basic Education Officer (BSA) to ensure strict compliance with this order across all schools. Educational institutions failing to comply with the order will face action under the Disaster Management Act.
Orange Alert for Heavy Rain in 6 Districts
According to the Meteorological Centre, Dehradun, there is a strong likelihood of intense to very intense rainfall in six districts of the state over the next 24 hours.
The department has issued an orange alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar. These districts are likely to experience thunderstorms, lightning strikes, and one or two spells of extremely heavy rainfall in certain areas. A yellow alert for moderate to heavy rainfall has been issued for the remaining districts.
National Highways Disrupted; Risk of Landslides
Continuous rainfall in hilly regions has led to an increase in landslide incidents affecting national highways and rural roads.
Road Blockages: Traffic has been disrupted at several locations on the Dehradun-Mussoorie route, as well as the Rishikesh-Badrinath and Kedarnath national highways, due to falling debris and rocks. JCB machines from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority are engaged in clearing the routes.
Advisory for Char Dham Pilgrims: The Meteorological Department and the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) have urged pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra to plan their onward journeys only after checking weather forecasts and to avoid stopping in vulnerable areas. Disaster Management and SDRF on High Alert
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local police have been placed on high alert to tackle challenges arising from heavy rainfall in the state.
Control rooms in Dehradun and other vulnerable districts are operating round-the-clock. Teams have been deployed with boats, cutters, and life-saving equipment to carry out relief and rescue operations in the event of an emergency.
The administration has urged citizens to avoid venturing near rivers, drains, and waterlogged areas, to stay away from dilapidated buildings, and to immediately inform the District Disaster Management Control Room in case of any emergency.