Dehradun Cloudburst Highlights: Floods leave 538 stranded, NDRF official warns against continuing operations as debris rolls down the hills

Himachal Pradesh has witnessed 46 cloudbursts, 97 flash floods and 140 landslides so far this year. With 650 roads, including stretches of three national highways closed, 1,250 power transformers and 160 water supply schemes already disrupted, the latest bout of showers exacerbated the situation.

Taking stock of the situation, Dhami presented his analysis of the situation to reporters. “We are all facing a big disaster at this time, and the disaster that started on 5th August is continuing. Due to this, there has been a huge loss to our lives and property, and our resources have been affected by this disaster. All the roads, electricity and wires in different areas have been affected, and a lot of our resources have been invested in this,” CM Dhami said.

“As you can see, the situation is very bad due to cloudbursts. There has been a lot of damage to the house and properties. We got information that three people have been trapped in the debris. Search operation has to be stopped as debris and water are coming down from the hills,” Ajay Pant, Assistant Commandant, NDRF, said

Three people were buried under debris in Dehradun’s Sahastradhara area as a result of heavy rainfall that led to flooding in the area and caused severe damage to houses and properties across the State, authorities said on Tuesday. Upon receiving information, emergency response teams, combining NDRF, SDRF, and local teams, rushed to the local site to conduct the rescue operation and save the individuals in distress.

Taking stock of the situation, CM Dhami issued orders to officials to ensure that blocked routes are reopened at the earliest and that the supply of safe drinking water and electricity is restored without delay. He further added that state and district administration teams are continuously active in the field, with all departments working in close coordination to carry out relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts.

Disaster Response teams on Tuesday rescued 200 students stranded at Devbhoomi Institute in Dehradun’s Paunda area after heavy overnight rains led to severe waterlogging on the campus. According to officials, rescue personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) acted swiftly after receiving reports of students being trapped inside.

The teams waded through flooded areas and safely evacuated all students to a secure location. Meanwhile, widespread damage to roads, houses, and public infrastructure has been reported across Uttarakhand due to relentless downpours. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious as rescue and relief operations continue on a war footing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to review the situation caused by incessant rainfall in the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also contacted the Chief Minister to assess the extent of damage. Dhami confirmed that homes, government properties and livelihoods have been severely impacted. Both Modi and Shah assured the state of full central assistance, reaffirming that the Union Government stands firmly with Uttarakhand in this crisis. Expressing gratitude, Dhami said their guidance would accelerate relief efforts, adding that rescue operations are underway on a war footing in affected areas.

The heavy downpour also affected neighbouring Rishikesh, where the Chandrabhaga river has been in spate since morning. Floodwaters reached the highway, stranding vehicles and causing traffic disruption. According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), three people trapped in the river were successfully rescued, though several vehicles remain stuck.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected the disaster-affected area in Kesarwala, Maldevta area. A 100-meter-long road was washed away in Maldevta, Raipur, due to the flow of water triggered by heavy rains in the Sahastradhara area of ​​Dehradun district.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, “Due to the heavy rains last night, all the rivers here are in spate and cloudburst has occurred in many places. Roads have been completely washed away at about 25-30 places. Houses have suffered a lot. Government properties have been damaged, and the lives of the people are in disarray. All efforts are being made to normalise it. Many connecting routes have been cut off. The water level of the rivers has also increased a lot…”

Tapkeshwar Temple priest Acharya Bipin Joshi said the river began rising rapidly around 5 am, submerging the premises in an “unprecedented” situation.

Local devotees described how the water entered the cave temple, forcing them to use ropes to climb to safety as levels rose to nearly 12 feet. Logs and debris carried by the current added to the damage.

The SDRF on resucue operation, said the c since this Tuesday morning, causing water to reach the highway.

Three people stranded in the river were rescued by the SDRF team, while several vehicles remain stuck in the water, added SDRF.

Among the worst-hit sites was the Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple, a historic cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The swelling Tamsa river inundated the temple premises, with water rising to the statue of Hanuman. Though the sanctum sanctorum was spared, the outer courtyard and structures suffered extensive flooding.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami tweets, “Some shops have been damaged due to heavy rains in Sahastradhara, Dehradun, late last night. District administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I am constantly in touch with the local administration in this regard and am personally monitoring the situation.”

In Uttarakahnd, cloudburst in Sahastradhara has led to heavy flooding; visuals show cars buried in debris.

Authorities said repair works will take time due to the force of the water and continued rainfall. Commuters have been advised to avoid travelling on affected stretches unless absolutely necessary.

Welcome to our live blog. Stay tuned for real-time updates, photos, and on-ground reports as we track the unfolding situation of severe flooding in Dehradun and neighbouring areas.