Dehradun: Continuous downpours through Monday night triggered flooding in several parts of Dehradun, with the historic Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple among the worst affected. The swelling Tamsa river gushed into the shrine complex early Tuesday, submerging large portions of the premises and rising as high as the Hanuman idol in the courtyard.
Priest Acharya Bipin Joshi confirmed that water began entering the area around dawn. “By 5 a.m., the river’s flow intensified, and the temple grounds were completely underwater. This kind of flooding has not occurred in years. Thankfully, the sanctum sanctorum of Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple remains untouched, and no casualties have been reported so far,” he said, urging devotees and residents to avoid venturing close to rivers in the current conditions.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand | Tamsa river in spate and Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple inundated as heavy rainfall lashes Dehradun.
Temple priest Acharya Bipin Joshi says, “The river started flowing heavily since 5 AM, the entire temple premises were submerged… This kind of situation had… pic.twitter.com/4E6PhKBM6K
— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2025
Eyewitnesses recounted how water rapidly surged through the cave passageways. “Around 4:45 a.m., the river breached the temple. The level quickly climbed to nearly 12 feet, even covering the Shivling. We had to climb out with the help of ropes,” one local resident shared. Another described the damage caused by debris carried downstream, including heavy logs smashing into temple structures.
The rainfall has also strained other parts of Uttarakhand. In Rishikesh, the Chandrabhaga river has risen above danger levels, spilling onto nearby roads, including sections of the highway. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) confirmed that three people trapped in the swollen waters were safely evacuated, though several vehicles remain stranded.
Officials have issued advisories urging residents and pilgrims to remain vigilant, stressing that riverbanks and low-lying areas are especially unsafe while the heavy rain spell continues.
