NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have been relentlessly pummeled by extreme monsoon weather, including torrential rain, intense cloudbursts, and devastating landslides. This relentless downpour, which began on Monday night and continued into early Tuesday, has left a trail of widespread destruction, severely impacting daily life, stranding numerous tourists, and sweeping away many vehicles.
Tragedy Strikes Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
In Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, the town of Dharampur experienced severe devastation following heavy overnight rains. A tragic landslide in the Nihri area caused a house to collapse after debris from a nearby cliff cascaded down, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Fortunately, two other people were successfully rescued from the debris.
Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma confirmed the fatalities, stating, “Three people died, while two others were rescued. Rescue teams swiftly reached the scene, and operations are ongoing.”
Mandi district has been continuously pounded by rain since Monday evening. Police reports indicate that the Dharampur bus stand was completely inundated, with several buses and other vehicles being carried away by the powerful floodwaters. The Son and Bharand drains overflowed, causing extensive damage to a workshop, pump houses, shops, and more than 20 buses.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri also acknowledged the extent of the damage on Facebook, stating, “Dharampur bus stand, over two dozen HRTC buses, shops, pump house and workshop have been damaged.”
Shimla Hit by Landslides, Roads Blocked
The capital city of Shimla also faced severe disruption, as a massive landslide near Himland in the city center buried multiple vehicles. This incident led to the blockage of the crucial main circular road, severely inconveniencing residents and particularly impacting school children.
Witnesses Gautam and Rahul Shukla, who were sleeping in their parked vehicle nearby, recounted the harrowing experience: “It was raining heavily and around 1 am, we heard a deafening sound with trees and debris sliding down and immediately moved our vehicles to escape.”
Cloudburst Unleashes Chaos in Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh’s neighboring state, was not spared from the disaster. A fierce cloudburst struck Dehradun late Monday night, inflicting substantial damage upon hotels, shops, and various commercial establishments.
The torrential rainfall caused the Sahastradhara river to swell and overflow its banks, inundating the main market area with debris. This surge of water and mud severely damaged numerous establishments, with shops and hotels along Sahastradhara Road bearing the brunt of the destruction.
Chief Minister Dhami Surveys Damaged Areas
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally visited the hardest-hit regions, including Sahastradhara, Raipur, and Maldevta. He observed firsthand the extensive damage, particularly a 100-meter section of road in Maldevta that was completely washed away by the relentless floodwaters.
The Chief Minister emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “There has been significant damage to both residential and government properties, impacting livelihoods. Our priority is to restore normalcy. Connectivity has been severely hampered in several areas, and river water levels have risen dangerously. All our departments are working tirelessly on a war footing to address this crisis.”
CM Dhami also took to X (formerly Twitter) to reassure the public, confirming his personal oversight: “Some shops have been damaged due to heavy rains in Sahastradhara, Dehradun, late last night. District administration, SDRF, and police have swiftly responded and are engaged in critical relief and rescue operations. I am maintaining constant communication with the local administration and personally monitoring the situation.”
Swift Rescues Amidst Raging Waters
Amidst the chaotic deluge in Dehradun’s Sahastradhara, police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams conducted a swift and successful rescue operation. Five individuals who were trapped in the swollen river were safely brought to shore by the dedicated officials.
PM Modi and Amit Shah Assure Uttarakhand CM of Full Support
In a show of solidarity and concern, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held discussions with Chief Minister Dhami on Tuesday to thoroughly assess the ongoing situation in Uttarakhand.
Chief Minister Dhami reported, “Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah contacted me this morning, obtaining all the crucial details of the situation. They assured us of all possible assistance. We are committed to supporting the people affected by this disaster.”
A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) conveyed CM Dhami’s heartfelt gratitude to both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. He informed them that the entire administrative machinery is mobilized and operating efficiently in the affected regions, carrying out extensive rescue and relief operations with utmost urgency.