Rain, hail batter Uttarakhand; 30 tourists rescued from Dobra-Chanti Lake

Heavy rain, hailstorms and strong winds lashed Uttarakhand on Sunday (May 3), prompting authorities to place all districts on high alert, even as 30 tourists had to be rescued in Tehri after floating huts at the Dobra-Chanti Lake were damaged in a storm. The sudden change in weather uprooted trees, blocked roads and disrupted power supply in several areas.

The rescue operation in Tehri was launched on Saturday (May 2) evening after a fierce thunderstorm snapped axle joints of floating huts, causing them to tilt dangerously and drift amid high waves.

Rescue operation

A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team from Koti Colony reached the spot around 7.45 pm and evacuated all tourists safely. Officials said timely intervention prevented a tragedy similar to the April 30 Jabalpur boat accident in Madhya Pradesh.

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Following the incident, Acting District Magistrate Varuna Agrawal ordered a high-level probe and suspended operations at the site. A five-member inquiry committee has been tasked with examining structural integrity and safety lapses, with a report due within four days.

Parallels to Jabalpur tragedy

Preliminary findings indicate that the axle joints failed during the storm, while officials noted the absence of standard operating procedures for running such floating huts. The facility, built by the Uttarakhand Tourism Department in 2015-16, has been operated by a private firm under a public-private partnership since 2020-21. Police also flagged that they were not informed about the emergency.

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The incident drew immediate comparison to the Jabalpur cruise tragedy on April 30, where 13 people died after a boat capsized in the Bargi Dam on Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh during a similar storm. Officials noted that timely intervention by the SDRF in Tehri prevented a repeat of the Jabalpur disaster.

Weather forecast

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms at most places across all districts for Monday and Tuesday. Snowfall is expected in regions situated at altitudes of 4,000 metres and above.

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An 'orange alert' remains in place for Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar. These districts are likely to witness isolated heavy rain, hailstorms, and intense to very intense spells of rain accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph, the IMD said.

Public safety

Temperatures are likely to drop by 3–5 degrees Celsius over the coming days, with many regions already recording below-normal readings. Dehradun woke up to dark, overcast skies, with conditions resembling early night, while rainfall was reported from multiple locations, including Jollygrant, Mohakampur, Mukteshwar and Mussoorie.

Secretary Suman directed officials to clear blocked roads on priority to ensure public convenience. Specific instructions were issued regarding the Char Dham Yatra, ordering that helicopter services must operate strictly according to weather conditions to ensure pilgrims' safety.