Priyanka Bisht has been desperately looking for a way to reach Dehradun since Tuesday after her husband Mukesh’s health deteriorated. A resident of Mussoorie, Mukesh suffers from kidney disease and was due for his scheduled dialysis that day. The couple attempted to drive down but were forced to turn back at Galogi after encountering multiple road closures. By Wednesday, Mukesh had joined 11 other patients waiting at the ITBP helipad in Mussoorie to be airlifted.

 

The crisis follows a devastating cloudburst in Dehradun’s Sahastradhara early Tuesday morning. At least 13 people lost their lives and 16 remain missing. According to the Disaster Management Authority, 15 bodies have been recovered across Uttarakhand, with 13 in Dehradun and one each in Pithoragarh and Nainital. Several areas, including Mussoorie, have been left cut off as landslides and road blockages disrupted all major connecting routes.

 

At the helipad stood Rajat Aggarwal, president of the Mussoorie Traders Welfare Association, who has been assisting residents and coordinating with officials. On Tuesday, when it became evident that the hill station was isolated, the association directed local hotels to extend free accommodation and meals to stranded tourists.

 

“We cannot profit from a disaster. Many visitors had to cancel or reschedule their flights, and it would be unfair to charge them in such a situation. We have also been working with the authorities to identify alternate routes to Dehradun,” Aggarwal explained.