Floating Havoc: Tourists Rescued from Tehri's Treacherous Waters

SDRF personnel successfully rescued 30 tourists whose floating huts were destabilized by a severe thunderstorm at Dobra-Chanti lake. The swift action prevented a tragedy akin to the Jabalpur incident. An inquiry has been launched into the technical failings, highlighting a lack of safety protocols for these floating accommodations.

In a dramatic rescue mission, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) saved 30 tourists from potential disaster at Dobra-Chanti lake. On Saturday evening, a fierce thunderstorm compromised the structural integrity of floating huts, leaving them perilously tilted and adrift.

The timely intervention by the SDRF team from Koti Colony, which began the rescue around 7:45 pm, is credited with averting a tragedy similar to the Jabalpur cruise incident that claimed 13 lives earlier this year. Severe weather conditions had caused high waves and strong winds to exacerbate the perilous situation for guests.

Acting swiftly, Acting District Magistrate Varuna Agrawal called for a high-level investigation into the technical failures, suspending operations at the site. A panel led by the Tehri sub-divisional magistrate will review safety protocols and structural designs, with findings expected within four days. Critically, the Uttarakhand Tourism Department's lack of Standard Operating Procedures has been highlighted as a concern amid ongoing weather warnings.