Amidst a deluge of rainfall in Uttarakhand, a distressing incident occurred as the Doon Defence College building in Dehradun’s Maldevta succumbed to the elements on Monday. The structure was mercilessly swept away by the relentless torrents of the overflowing River Bandal, a direct consequence of unceasing downpours that had besieged the state for the preceding 24 hours.
The regional meteorological department has raised the alarm by issuing a red alert for intense rainfall across six districts, encompassing Dehradun and Nainital. The hilly expanse of Uttarakhand has borne the brunt of an incessant monsoon, resulting in a grievous toll of 60 lives lost, with an additional count of 17 individuals currently unaccounted for.
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The fury of heavy rain has triggered numerous landslides, effectively obstructing vital arteries of transportation, including major national highways. One such landslide, near Kunjapuri Bagardhar in Tehri, has led to the blockage of the Rishikesh-Chamba National Highway.
Meanwhile, the movement of substantial vehicular traffic has been curtailed at Sakhnidhar on the Rishikesh-Devprayag-Srinagar National Highways. Further compounding the calamity, approximately 1,169 residential abodes and substantial tracts of agricultural land have sustained extensive damage.
The unrelenting downpour has necessitated significant precautionary measures. In Dehradun and Champawat, authorities have decreed the suspension of all educational institutions for the day due to the inclement weather and resultant flooding.
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In light of the dire circumstances, the Uttarakhand administration has issued directives to district magistrates and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to maintain a heightened state of alertness, poised to render assistance promptly in the event of any exigency.
