- By Akansha Pandey
- Thu, 18 Sep 2025 03:05 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
A recent disaster has caused a level of destruction in Dehradun that has shattered all previous monsoon season records. Following a cloudburst on September 15 and 16, overflowing rivers have severely damaged critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges designed to stand for decades.
The severity of the event in the Doon valley is staggering. Over the entire three-month monsoon period, a total of 19 bridges were reported damaged across Uttarakhand. In stark contrast, eight of those bridges were damaged in the Dehradun region alone within a single 24-hour period. This has severely impacted connectivity in various parts of the district, and the Public Works Department (PWD) is now focused on making temporary arrangements to restore traffic flow.
The Scale Of Destruction In Numbers
The financial toll of the disaster highlights the intensity of the damage in Dehradun compared to the rest of the state over the entire monsoon:
Bridge Damage: The state suffered Rs 61.29 crore in bridge-related damages, while Dehradun alone recorded Rs 9.2 crore in just 24 hours.
Road Damage: Statewide road damages amounted to Rs 819 crore for the season, with the Dehradun region sustaining Rs 27.94 crore of that in a single day.
Statewide Impact
While Dehradun was the epicenter of this recent event, infrastructure across Uttarakhand has been hit hard this monsoon. Two bridges under the PWD—the steel bridge over the Nayar river in Kalgadi (Dhumakot) and a pedestrian bridge in Dhiyagad (Bhatwari)—were completely destroyed.
Additionally, the Pradhan Mantri GraminSadak Yojana (PMGSY) network has also suffered significant losses, with two bridges completely collapsed and 17 others partially damaged. Repairs on these structures are currently underway. The costliest PWD repair projects include the Sobla-Umchiya bridge in Dharchula (Rs 6.3 crore) and the JakholiRandhar bridge (Rs 5 crore).
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Damaged Bridges In The Dehradun Region
The eight bridges damaged in the 24-hour period in and around Dehradun are:
- Bridge near Shiv Mandir on Mussoorie Road
- Bridge in Jhajhra
- Bridge on the Karligad-Majhada motor road
- Bridge on the Thano-Bhogpur road (Rishikesh area)
- Bridge on the Bhattowala road (Rishikesh area)
- Bridge on the Maldevta road
- Bridge on the Bhaniyawala road (Rishikesh area)
- Bridge between Phawara Chowk and Aggarwal Bakers on the Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala road
"Our first priority is to make temporary arrangements on the bridges to ensure smooth movement of traffic," said Rajesh Sharma, Head of Department, PWD. "As soon as the rain stops, the team is working to restore connectivity via roads and bridges. All bridges will be repaired and restored."