Seems like Gods are upset as the ‘Land of Gods’, Uttarakhand is suffering from one of the worst natural calamities in decades. On Monday night, Dehradun, the capital city, experienced a sudden cloudburst that has left several parts of the city devastated including the famous Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The videos of the disaster doing rounds on social media have left the country shocked. The torrential rain has also flooded homes in Tapovan, Sahastradhara and the IT Park. A major bridge in the region has also been washed away.
As per news, the widespread destruction and disaster has killed over 15 people while 16 are reported missing. According to a TNN report, debris has entered shops in the market damaging houses and hotels. Heavy debris was also seen flowing near the IT Park.
IMD issues alert The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for four days in several parts of Dehradun warning of light to moderate rain and thunderstorms across Dehradun, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Bageshwar, and Udham Singh Nagar. As far as rain is concerned, Sahastradhara experienced rain of up to 192 mm, and Maldevta witnessed rainfall of 141.5 mm.
Some viral videos of rain related damage across Dehradun:
About Tapkeshwar Mahadev TempleAmong several places, the Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple, is the worst hit. It is also one of the must-visit attractions in Dehradun. Locals and temple priests said that they had never seen the temple in such bad condition in decades. For those who don’t know, Tapkeshwar was built around a natural Shiva Lingam set inside a cave. It is believed to be over 5000 years old and is named so because of the constant dripping ("tapak") of water from the cave.
The inception stories of the temple link it to the Mahabharata's guru, Dronacharya. His son, Ashwatthama, was fed by milk from the lingam during the difficult time. The name "Tapkeshwar" is given from the water that continuously drips into the cave, which as per legends, represents the milk.
Every year, the temple organises a huge festival on Shivratri famous as Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mela.
The rivers Tamsa, Tons and Song are in spate. The approach bridge at Maldevta has been washed away during the night, cutting off the area from the rest of the city.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Navratri wishes,
messages and
colours !
Start a Conversation
Post comment