Dehradun, Uttarakhand – Torrential rain battered Dehradun on Monday night, causing the Tamsa River to overflow and flood the Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple, one of the city’s most revered shrines. Water entered the temple courtyard and rose up to the statue of Lord Hanuman, though the sanctum sanctorum of the temple remained unharmed.
Temple priest Acharya Bipin Joshi said the river began rising around 5 AM, leading to the submergence of the entire temple premises.
“The river started flowing heavily early in the morning, and the entire temple complex was soon underwater. We haven’t seen such a situation in many years. There has been damage at several places. People must avoid going near rivers at this time. Fortunately, the sanctum sanctorum is safe, and no casualties have been reported so far,” he stated.
Local residents recounted the frightening experience as water surged into the cave temple. One resident shared that the water level quickly rose to about 10–12 feet.
“Around 4:45 AM, water began entering the cave. Soon, it rose significantly — even reaching above the Shivling. Somehow, we managed to escape using ropes,” he said.
Another local described the extensive damage caused by debris carried in the strong current.
“Large logs and debris came rushing in with the flow, damaging parts of the temple. In such conditions, people should stay far from the riverbanks,” he warned.
Elsewhere in the state, Rishikesh was also affected by heavy rainfall. The Chandrabhaga River has been flowing above normal levels since morning, with water reaching up to the highway in some areas.
According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), three people stranded in the river were successfully rescued. Several vehicles remain stuck in floodwaters.
Authorities have issued warnings urging residents to remain alert and refrain from going near swollen rivers and streams until conditions improve.
