Dehradun: A dramatic video from Uttarakhand’s Dehradun district captured a man desperately holding onto an electric pole while surrounded by the raging waters of the swollen Tons River, following severe rainfall and cloudbursts that have devastated parts of the state.
What’s in the viral video?
The footage, recorded by onlookers from the riverbank, shows the individual gripping the pole as torrential waters flow around him. The Tons River, which serves as the Yamuna’s largest tributary, originates from the Bandarpunch glacier in the Garhwal Himalayas and confluences with the Yamuna near Kalsi in Dehradun district.
#Dehradun Cloud burst.😨😰
— Sunaina Bhola (@sunaina_bhola) September 16, 2025
A man climbed on electric pole to save life.
Later SDFR had to reach to rescue him.#Dehradunnews #CloudBurst #HeavyRain #AliaBhatt #RobinUthappa #SamanthaRuthPrabhu #sonusood pic.twitter.com/olBNuFP0RT
Widespread Devastation amid Dehradun cloudburst
This season has brought repeated natural disasters across Uttarakhand, with cloudbursts, landslides, and flooding affecting multiple districts. Areas including Dharali-Harsil in Uttarkashi, Tharali in Chamoli, Chenagad in Rudraprayag, Sainji in Pauri, Kapkot in Bageshwar, and sections of Nainital district have suffered extensive damage.
Officials confirmed that at least four fatalities resulted from Tuesday’s early morning cloudburst triggered by heavy rainfall. The disaster destroyed residential structures, damaged critical infrastructure including bridges, and swept away vehicles and commercial establishments.
Emergency Response in Dehradun
Disaster Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman reported that district administration successfully relocated affected residents to safer locations. Two individuals initially reported missing were later found deceased following intensive search operations conducted by rescue teams.
The Disaster Management Department remains on high alert as rainfall continues across the region, with authorities monitoring evolving conditions and coordinating relief efforts.
Infrastructure Impact in Uttrakhand
Flooding submerged significant portions of Dehradun, including the IT Park and Premnagar areas. The Dehradun-Haridwar National Highway sustained damage after a bridge collapsed under the intense pressure of the rainfall, disrupting transportation links between the two cities.
The recurring pattern of extreme weather events this season has highlighted the vulnerability of Uttarakhand’s mountainous terrain to sudden cloudbursts and flash flooding. The state’s location in the Himalayan foothills makes it particularly susceptible to such weather-related disasters during monsoon periods.
Rescue operations continue as authorities work to assess the full extent of damage and provide assistance to affected communities across the region.
