Monsoon mayhem: Uttarakhand college building collapses, washed away amidst heavy floods

Monsoon mayhem: The torrential downpour in Uttarakhand has taken a grim toll as the Doon Defence College's building in Dehradun's Maldevta crumbled and was subsequently swept away by the surging currents of the overflowing River Bandal on Monday. The relentless 24-hour rainfall in the state precipitated this tragic incident.

Against this backdrop, the meteorological department in Uttarakhand has sounded a red alert for heavy rainfall across six districts, including Dehradun and Nainital. The hill state finds itself grappling with the adverse effects of continuous monsoon showers, which have already claimed 60 lives. In addition, a harrowing count of 17 individuals remain missing, further exacerbating the crisis.

The onslaught of heavy rains has triggered landslides, effectively blocking numerous roads, including major national highways. The Rishikesh-Chamba National Highway faced obstruction near Kunjapuri Bagardhar in Tehri due to a landslide, while the passage of heavy vehicles has been halted at Sakhnidhar along the Rishikesh-Devprayag-Srinagar National Highways. The toll on infrastructure is substantial, with 1,169 houses and considerable agricultural land left ravaged.

Responding to the dire situation, the local authorities have taken preventive measures. In Dehradun and Champawat, all schools have been ordered to remain closed due to the severe weather conditions and flooding. The Uttarakhand government has acted decisively, instructing district magistrates and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to maintain a heightened state of readiness. Their mandate is to swiftly respond to any emergency situations and provide vital assistance to affected individuals.

As Uttarakhand continues to grapple with the relentless onslaught of nature, the people, authorities, and relief forces remain on high alert, working tirelessly to mitigate the impacts of this calamity and safeguard lives.