Dehradun Floods and Landslides Amid Red Alert, 5 Missing as Rivers Overflow

Dehradun Faces Severe Flooding and Landslides Amid Red Alert

Dehradun district in Uttarakhand was placed under a red alert on Tuesday as heavy rainfall lashed the region, triggering landslides across multiple areas and causing rivers to swell. Reports indicate that at least five people have been swept away in Tapkeshwar, DIT College area, Rajpur Shikhar Falls, and Bhagat Singh Colony. The situation has raised alarm among authorities, prompting urgent rescue and relief operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday. According to the state government, they assured full assistance and emphasized that the Centre stands firmly with Uttarakhand during this disaster. Multiple rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Public Works Department (PWD) have been deployed, while schools remain closed for safety.

The SDRF is actively involved in rescuing over 100 people trapped in different parts of the city. Around 30 individuals are stranded in Raipur’s Panchkuli area, and approximately 500 people are being evacuated to safer locations at Shri Dev Bhoomi Institute in Premnagar. In Sahastradhara’s Karligad, several shops were washed away due to the heavy downpour. District administration officials confirmed that residents were moved to safer zones during the night to mitigate risk.

Specific incidents include one person swept away by floodwaters in Tapkeshwar, while several others were rescued by SDRF teams. At DIT College on Rajpur Road near Mussoorie Diversion, one individual was carried away and another sustained injuries. Two people were reported missing near Rajpur Shikhar Falls, and three remain trapped on the Rispana River. Additionally, one person was swept away in Bhagat Singh Colony. Rescue operations are ongoing in all affected locations.

The red alert was issued at approximately 5 a.m. by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Dehradun, along with the Disaster Alert Portal of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The alert forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunder and lightning, with periods of extremely intense rainfall. The IMD warned that the current weather increased the likelihood of landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas, which could result in untoward incidents. District Magistrate Savin Bansal issued a circular highlighting these risks.

Many key routes have been affected by the weather. A bridge at Maldevta was washed away, disrupting traffic flow, while debris has blocked several sections of the Mussoorie–Dehradun Road. Police and other departments are working to clear these routes. Travelers, especially tourists heading to Mussoorie, were advised not to use the affected roads until safety is restored. In Premnagar, a portion of the bridge on the Dehradun–Paonta National Highway collapsed, causing complete disruption of traffic along this route.

On Tuesday morning, SDRF teams rescued several people stranded in the swollen Chandrabhaga River after their vehicles got trapped. The force also rescued residents from Sahaspur and Thakurpur, ensuring their safe evacuation. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as heavy rain persists, with a focus on minimizing casualties and preventing further damage.

The ongoing emergency highlights the vulnerability of Dehradun to flash floods and landslides during heavy rainfall. Rescue operations remain a top priority as teams work around the clock to reach stranded individuals and restore access to affected roads and infrastructure. Coordination between state and central authorities is crucial to managing this rapidly evolving disaster, ensuring both immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts in the flood-affected district.