Dehradun, Sep 16
The Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Uttarakhand's Dehradun has suffered extensive damage after the Tamsa River, swollen by torrential rains and a cloudburst in Sahastradhara, inundated the temple premises.
Several feet of sand and debris entered the temple complex, submerging the Shivling and leaving deep cracks in the walls.
While officials confirmed that no loss of life has been reported so far, the scale of destruction is being described as severe. The water level, which rose sharply in the early hours, has now begun to recede.
According to temple officials, the river's level started rising rapidly at around 5:00 A.M., leading to the complete submergence of the first floor of the temple complex.
"There has been huge damage. The entire temple is damaged. The Shivling is submerged under 3–4 feet of debris. The water started rising at around 5 A.M. and the situation escalated as the water level reached the first floor of the temple," priest Rajpal Giri told.