Priyanka Bisht had been trying to find a way to get to Dehradun since Tuesday. Her husband, Mukesh, had a sudden increase in his creatinine blood level. Mukesh, who lives in Mussoorie and is a kidney patient, needed his biweekly dialysis that day. They drove until they reached Galogi, but had to turn back due to road closures between Mussoorie and Dehradun.
Patients stranded in Mussoorie due to Dehradun cloudburst
On Wednesday, Mukesh was one of 12 patients at the ITBP helipad in Mussoorie waiting to be airlifted. A cloudburst in Sahastradhara, Dehradun, early on Tuesday morning caused at least 13 deaths, and 16 people are feared missing. The Disaster Management Authority reported that 15 bodies were found in Uttarakhand — 13 in Dehradun and one each in Pithoragarh and Nainital. Several people are missing after the cloudburst occurred on the night of Monday into Tuesday. Besides the casualties, many areas, including Mussoorie, have been cut off from the city due to blockages on alternative routes.
While the tourism department states that 511 tourists registered on their portal are stranded in Mussoorie, the actual number is likely in the thousands.
13 bridges damaged, 21 roads blocked, hotels, restaurants damage
The damage has been extensive due to cloudburst in Dehradun. 13 bridges have affected, with repairs estimated to cost Rs 1.5 crore. Twenty-one roads suffered damage, estimated at Rs 1.2 crore. Additionally, embankments worth Rs 1.7 crore have been impacted. Residents, including homes, an anganwadi centre, a panchayat building, a community centre, 13 shops, eight hotels, and three restaurants, all faced damage. The Sahastradhara-Karligad motor road was affected at more than nine points due to landslides.
Rajendra Sharma, a businessman from Haridwar, arrived in Mussoorie on Monday for work and planned to leave on Tuesday. That night, Mussoorie experienced heavy rainfall, which worried Sharma and others. “The rain did not stop, and soon the town lost power. The next morning, we realized how serious the situation was. Several routes were blocked, so I had to stay put. Fortunately, the hotel covered my expenses for accommodation, medical aid, and food; it would have been difficult to stay without their help,” he said.
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