With the monsoon increasing the risk of sudden rises in river water levels, Dehradun Police has intensified security measures at riverside picnic spots across the district. Station House Officers (SHOs) have been directed to maintain strict surveillance at vulnerable locations, conduct regular patrols, and use loudspeakers to warn visitors against entering rivers or venturing near their banks.
Police officials said strict action will be taken against those who ignore safety advisories and violate the restrictions despite repeated warnings.
Popular picnic destinations such as Maldevta, Guchhupani, Sahastradhara, Nayagaon, and Santala Devi continue to attract large numbers of visitors during the monsoon. However, officials cautioned that even when the weather appears clear in Dehradun, rainfall in the upper reaches can cause river levels to rise dangerously within minutes, posing a serious threat to lives.
The latest safety measures follow a recent incident in the Santala Devi area, where seven people became stranded on a river island in the Tons River after the water level rose suddenly. Police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) carried out a timely rescue operation and safely evacuated all those trapped. Following the incident, the district police decided to further strengthen monitoring at riverside locations.
SP City Pramod Kumar appealed to the public to avoid visiting riverbanks during the monsoon season. He warned that sudden increases in water levels due to rainfall in the hills make picnicking on river islands extremely dangerous. Police personnel have been deployed at sensitive locations to prevent people from entering hazardous areas, and those found deliberately violating safety instructions will face strict legal action.
The police have also instructed all police stations to deploy additional personnel at vulnerable picnic spots, increase routine patrolling, and continuously spread public awareness about monsoon-related risks.
Officials recalled that during the September 16 disaster last year, several people lost their lives after entering a river in the Nayagaon area. Similar rescue operations are carried out almost every monsoon in Maldevta, where tourists and locals frequently become stranded due to the sudden rise in river water levels.
