Dehradun, September 18: Torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods across Uttarakhand on Tuesday, killing at least 15 people and leaving 16 missing, officials said, as swollen rivers, washed-out bridges and blocked roads stranded thousands in the Himalayan state.
Thirteen of the deaths were reported in Dehradun, the state capital, which bore the brunt of the downpour. Two more fatalities were reported from Nainital and Pithoragarh districts. Disaster officials said 13 bridges, 10 culverts, two houses and 21 roads were severely damaged.
“Rescue and relief operations are underway, and the numbers may change,” said Rishabh Kumar, Dehradun district disaster management officer. More than 900 people were evacuated from affected areas, including 400-500 students from a flooded college campus.
The Dehradun–Mussoorie road, a vital link between the capital and the hill town, was badly damaged, while landslides cut off all other major routes. Nearly 3,000 tourists were stranded in Mussoorie, with local hotel operators offering free accommodation.
In one of the worst-hit areas, eight labourers were swept away by the Tons river in Premnagar, while a suspected cloudburst in Karligarh village left six people missing and damaged 23 homes and several resorts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah assured state chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of federal assistance. Dhami, who inspected damaged sites, said “all rivers are in spate following heavy rains” and dozens of roads had been cut off.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for the next four days, warning of further rain in several districts. Weather experts said the rains were driven by a violent interaction between dry westerly winds and moisture-laden easterlies.
The latest floods come even as the southwest monsoon has begun retreating from northwest India, though heavy rains are still forecast for parts of the Himalayan region, Bihar, and eastern states. Neighbouring Himachal Pradesh also reported casualties, with three people killed in Mandi after landslides submerged a bus stand, while in Manipur, multiple landslides cut off a key national highway and forced schools to shut.
