Cloudburst in Dehradun: 2 Missing, Shops Swept Away as Heavy Rain Triggers Havoc

A sudden cloudburst in Dehradun’s Sahastradhara area triggered heavy rains on Tuesday, leaving two people missing and sweeping away several shops. Key routes, including the Dehradun–Mussoorie road, were damaged by landslides and floods, while traffic was diverted on the Dehradun–Haridwar highway after a culvert collapse. Rescue teams from the NDRF and SDRF have been deployed as authorities remain on high alert amid warnings of more rainfall in Uttarakhand.

Admin Sep 16, 2025 2 0

Cloudburst in Dehradun: 2 Missing, Shops Swept Away as Heavy Rain Triggers Havoc

A sudden cloudburst in Sahastradhara during the early hours of Tuesday triggered heavy rainfall in Dehradun, leaving two people missing and several shops washed away. The deluge caused widespread damage, with parts of the Maldevta road washed out and the Dehradun–Mussoorie route severely affected by landslides and rising water levels.

District magistrate Savin Bansal confirmed that the administration had activated the Incident Response System (IRS), mobilising teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Public Works Department (PWD) for urgent rescue operations. “Search efforts are underway for the missing persons. All departments are on high alert following weather office warnings,” Bansal said.

Senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh stated that rescue and relief measures were being closely monitored. “Several key routes, including the Dehradun–Mussoorie road, have been disrupted due to landslides and flooding. A culvert on the Dehradun–Haridwar National Highway has also been damaged, forcing authorities to divert traffic via Bhaniyawala and Nepali Farm,” Singh added.

The city also reported extensive waterlogging in multiple areas. Officials have appealed to residents to stay away from rivers and streams, where water levels continue to rise dangerously.

Wider Context

The incident comes amid a series of rain-related disasters across the Himalayan belt. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), August 2025 was the wettest since 2001 in northwest India, with multiple states, including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, experiencing devastating floods, landslides, and infrastructure collapse. Hundreds of lives have been lost in the region since last month.

In Uttarakhand, heavy monsoon rainfall is expected to continue through September, with IMD warning of episodic cloudbursts, mudslides, and flash floods. Authorities across the state remain on high alert as rivers swell and downstream towns brace for flooding.

For Dehradun residents, Tuesday’s cloudburst is a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by extreme weather events in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, where even a few hours of rain can trigger large-scale destruction.