A recent torrential downpour has brought Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, to a standstill, causing extensive damage to crucial roads connecting the popular hill station to Dehradun. This sudden disruption has left hundreds of tourists stranded, many growing increasingly anxious despite the generous offer of free accommodation from local hotels and homestays. Authorities are working tirelessly to clear the highways and restore normalcy.
The aftermath of the flash floods, which struck the town just 48 hours prior, has been tragic. Disaster management authorities confirmed at least 18 fatalities, with 19 individuals still reported missing.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope: late on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, officials announced that some roads had been partially cleared, allowing for the movement of small vehicles.
Sandeep Sahni, President of the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Uttarakhand, highlighted the extraordinary goodwill shown by the local hospitality sector. He stated that more than 300 hotels and guesthouses throughout Mussoorie had provided free lodging to guests who were supposed to check out on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, but were unable to due to the road closures. “Not a penny was taken,” he emphasized.
“We estimate that over 3,000 individuals found themselves stuck in Mussoorie on Tuesday,” Sahni explained. “While many ingeniously navigated their way out through much longer, alternative routes via Kempty Fall and Dhanaulti towards Tehri, a significant number chose to remain, patiently awaiting the administration’s green light for regular vehicular traffic.”
This commendable hospitality wasn’t limited to hotels alone; approximately 300 homestays across the picturesque hill town also extended free accommodation to stranded travelers.
Swati Tiwari, a tourist from Delhi, shared her experience: “Our checkout was scheduled for Tuesday morning, but the damage to a vital bridge connecting Dehradun and Mussoorie made travel impossible. Our homestay owner not only offered us free lodging but also food, despite our repeated attempts to pay.”
The road blockages didn’t just affect tourists; local residents, including patients, students, and private employees, also found themselves cut off.
Efforts to airlift critically ill patients from the ITBP helipad in Mussoorie were unfortunately thwarted when permission was denied. Consequently, these patients, who urgently required emergency medical attention for conditions like dialysis, heart attacks, and severe injuries, had to be transported to Dehradun via ambulances, enduring an arduous 80-100 km detour, according to informed sources.
To prevent further congestion and ensure safety, police proactively made announcements along Mall Road, advising travelers to remain in their hotels until conditions improved.
Meanwhile, in Sahastradhara, a region severely hit by the heavy rainfall between Monday and Tuesday nights, residents returning from temporary rehabilitation camps were faced with the heartbreaking task of sifting through their damaged homes and shops, desperately searching for salvageable belongings. They had initially been relocated to local schools and hotels by the administration.
Sanjay Kumar, who operates a makeshift eatery in Sahastradhara market, voiced his deep concern: “I’m extremely worried about my wife’s jewelry and my son’s crucial certificates. We had to leave our homes unlocked when instructed to evacuate, and now we’re completely unsure of what awaits us there.”