Wed Sep 17 17:05:57 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Heavy rainfall in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India, has caused significant damage to roads, stranding thousands of tourists. Hotels and homestays are offering free accommodation. At least 18 people have died and 19 are missing due to flash floods. Small vehicle movement has resumed on some roads. Residents displaced from the Sahastradhara area are returning to assess damage to their homes and businesses.
**News Article:**
**Mussoorie Devastation: Flash Floods Leave 18 Dead, Tourists Stranded**
**NEW DELHI -** Heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, leaving at least 18 dead and 19 missing after flash floods struck the hill town. Roads linking Mussoorie to Dehradun have been severely damaged, stranding thousands of tourists.
As of Wednesday night, authorities announced that small vehicles could once again navigate some of the affected roads. However, the initial impact left many stranded, prompting local hotels and homestays to offer free accommodation to those unable to leave.
“Over 300 hotels across Mussoorie have not taken a penny from stranded guests,” stated Sandeep Sahni, president of the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Uttarakhand. “As far as we know, over 3,000 people were stranded in Mussoorie on Tuesday.”
Many tourists managed to find alternative routes through Tehri, Kempty Fall, and Dhanaulti, though these routes were significantly longer. Others chose to remain in Mussoorie, awaiting the reopening of the primary roads.
Swati Tiwari, a tourist from Delhi, praised the generosity of her homestay owner. “We were supposed to check out on Tuesday morning, but since a bridge on the road connecting Doon and Mussoorie was damaged, we could not reach the place. Our homestay owner offered us free stay and food even though we offered to pay.”
Even local residents were affected. The district administration initially planned to airlift patients requiring urgent medical care but had to resort to ambulance transport via a lengthy detour.
In Sahastradhara, one of the areas hardest hit by the rains, residents who had been evacuated to temporary shelters are now returning to find their homes and businesses damaged. Sanjay Kumar, a local business owner, expressed concern about the safety of his family’s belongings.
Police are urging travelers to remain in their accommodations to avoid further congestion on the roads. Authorities continue to work to clear the roadways and provide assistance to those affected by the disaster.
First Piper 