Uttarakhand Rains: CM Dhami Takes Stock of Situation in Kesarwala, Pledges Aid for Flood Victims

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Kesarwala to assess flood damage caused by heavy rainfall. The region faced significant destruction, including loss of lives and damage to infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for relief efforts.

In the wake of heavy rainfall across several regions, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami made a visit to the disaster-stricken zone in Kesarwala, within the Maldevta area, to assess the extent of damage first-hand.

This area, notably in Maldevta and Raipur, witnessed significant destruction with a 100-meter stretch of road being obliterated by the forceful water currents caused by intense downpours in the Sahastradhara locality of Dehradun district.

The severity of the situation was further highlighted in Dehradun, where a cloudburst late on Monday night in the Sahastradhara area led to the Tamsa river overflowing. This event not only resulted in the disappearance of two individuals but also saw numerous vehicles being swept away by the floodwaters. In response to the emergent hazard, educational institutions up to the 12th grade in Dehradun were promptly shut down.

Temple Submerged and Infrastructure Damaged

The Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple, revered by many, found itself submerged following the flood. The temple's priest recounted the harrowing moment, detailing how the floodwaters engulfed the temple at around 5 am, leading to the displacement of several idols. Despite the widespread damage, it was a slight relief that the temple's innermost sanctuary remained untouched. As the floodwaters receded, cleanup efforts revealed approximately two feet of mud and debris within the temple premises.

Landslides and Flooding Across States

The deluge brought on by the cloudburst in Uttarakhand was mirrored in Himachal Pradesh, where the Dharmpur bus stand in Mandi suffered from landslides triggered by overnight rain, resulting in several buses being carried away by the flood. The impact of the heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh was extensive, with three national highways shut down and disruptions reported on nearly 493 roads due to landslides and the accumulation of debris.

Adding to the distress, the town of Nihri in Mandi faced a tragic incident where three individuals lost their lives due to a landslide. A nearby rock shed debris onto a residential structure, causing it to collapse and trapping five members of a family beneath the rubble, as informed by local police authorities.underscore the devastating effects of heavy rainfall and cloudbursts across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The loss of lives, damage to infrastructure, and the displacement of communities call for immediate relief efforts and long-term strategies to mitigate the impact of such natural disasters in the future.