Floods in the Mountains Mt.Abu

Floods in the Mountains of Mt.Abu

I retrieved my laptop from the cabinet during the second week of August, intending to share some observations about the monsoon on Facebook. Our community, known as Abuites, was quite concerned, as we had encountered only about six light showers until August 7th, with just two of them being heavy. It seemed like we were heading into another dry spell.

On the morning of August 9th, the rain started with a gentle drizzle, intensifying as the day progressed. By midday, the downpour had become a torrential deluge, as if the gates of heaven had opened, releasing a flood instead of the expected brimstone and fire. It transformed the hill station into a waterlogged landscape.

Streams of water began flowing down the small creek in front of our house, causing our modest bridge to overflow. The water volume surged by the minute, and I realized a flash flood was imminent. Relentless heavy rain persisted, and the continuous downpour led to torrents of water converging towards the major drainage system. Unfortunately, the neglected state of the streams and gutters aggravated the situation because of obstructions and backflows, causing water levels to rise in various parts of Abu. It submerged the main road under over three feet of water, and landslides blocked some pathways, forcing people to detour around the affected areas, even trekking from the Hanuman temple because of the landslide.

The impact of the deluge led to the collapse of a substantial wall in front of Dhundai Central School, with debris hindering the turbulent flow of water. Vehicles parked in lots were carried away, and motorcycles were swept downstream. Amid the chaos, my cook Naresh and I waded through waist-high water to rescue our water storage tanks, which had drifted away. I secured my scooter at a higher elevation and fastened our water tanks to our main iron door. The water level continued to rise, and our surroundings resembled a transformed landscape, with water reaching our home’s fourth step. Liz, who was sitting on her bed, tried to seek help by calling, but connectivity issues made it a challenge. She contacted people in town and inform them of our predicament.

Around 1:45 pm, water seeped into the house, and by 2 pm, it had risen to three feet. Time was running short, preventing us from salvaging belongings. The rising water engulfed cupboards, causing fridges and a washing machine to float. Liz’s bed was adrift, prompting me to move her into her specialized wheelchair. Urging Naresh and our maid to hold on to the wheelchair, I struggled to open the rear iron door, which was obstructed by the rising water. With a concerted effort, I pried it open, allowing the water to rush in.

The water level had reached about four feet inside the house, submerging Liz’s lower body. After clearing the debris, we guided her to the back of the house. With combined effort and Liz’s cooperation, we successfully transported her to the rooftop. As the unrelenting rain ceased by 4 pm, the water gradually receded, leaving behind a messy aftermath. Liz was safely lowered from the roof by CRPF personnel and taken to a temporary shelter at the Starlet hostel. Leonard and his team arrived to begin the cleanup and restoration process. I’m immensely thankful to everyone who extended their help to Liz and me during this challenging situation.

Despite the impending danger, I managed to capture a few photographs.

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Close to 1pm, the water 10 above the stream

The rising water

Three feet of water in the kitchen

One of the fridges floating,the water came through the window 

Naresh and the tank

The stream looks like a river 

 The water level at our threshold 

P.S
Read more on the Heavy Rain in Mt.Abu
have a look at the video clip I took Floods in Abu