Uttarakhand: Disaster Response personnel on Tuesday rescued 200 students stranded after the Devbhoomi Institute campus in Paunda, Dehradun, became waterlogged following heavy overnight rains.

Damage to roads, houses and infrastructure was reported from several parts of Uttarakhand. Acting swiftly, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the institute and conducted a rapid evacuation.

"The team reached the spot and conducted a quick rescue operation. Amidst the waterlogging, the team worked with utmost prudence and promptness and evacuated all 200 students safely and took them to a safe place," the SDRF said.

Chief Minister on-ground inspections

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected affected areas including Sahastradhara, Raipur, Kesarwala and Maldevta. In Maldevta, a 100-metre-long road was washed away due to gushing water from Sahastradhara.

Addressing reporters, Dhami said, "There has been a lot of damage to houses and government properties. Livelihood is affected. We are working to get things back on track. Connectivity has been disrupted at several places. The water level of rivers has increased. All our departments are working on a war footing. PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with me this morning and took all the details. They assured us that all possible help will be provided. We are working to help the people affected in this disaster..."

He later posted on X that he remains in constant touch with the local administration and is personally monitoring relief measures.

PM Modi and Amit Shah extend support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah both spoke with Dhami to get a detailed update on the rainfall crisis. The Chief Minister’s Office confirmed the conversations.

Dhami expressed gratitude for their assurance of all possible assistance. He said their guidance will accelerate relief operations already being carried out by the administrative machinery on a war footing.

Widespread damage in Dehradun

Torrential rains since early Tuesday caused the Sahastradhara river to overflow, sweeping debris into the market area and damaging shops and hotels along Sahastradhara Road.

In another part of Dehradun, heavy rainfall caused the Tamsa river to swell and inundate the Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple. Water entered the temple courtyard and rose to the Hanuman statue, though the sanctum sanctorum remained safe.

Temple priest Acharya Bipin Joshi said, "The river started flowing heavily since 5 AM, the entire temple premises were submerged... This kind of situation had not taken place in a very long time... Losses have been incurred at various places... People should avoid going near rivers at this time... The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is safe... No human loss has been reported as of now..."

Locals recounted water rising inside the cave temple. One said, "Around 4:45 am, the water entered the cave... Later, when the water level started increasing, it rose to 10-12ft... The water reached above the 'Shivling'... Somehow, we made our way, and with the help of the rope, we came up..."

Another local added, "Due to the strong flow of water, a lot of logs came floating, due to which the temple has faced a lot of damage... In this situation, everyone should stay away from the river..."

Impact in Rishikesh

Officials reported heavy rains also affected Rishikesh, where the Chandrabhaga river rose above normal levels and reached the highway.

According to the SDRF, three people stranded in the river were rescued, though several vehicles remain stuck in floodwaters. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid venturing near swollen rivers and streams.

Frequent cloudburst incidents in hills

Cloudbursts frequently occur during monsoon in the Himalayan region. Over the weekend, a cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district buried 10 vehicles and damaged crops. Last month, Uttarakhand’s Dharali village was devastated by a flash flood after a cloudburst in the Kheer Ganga river, an incident compared to the 2021 Chamoli disaster in which more than 200 lives were lost.