A man remains trapped atop an electric pole in a swollen river as floodwaters surge. Rescue teams are actively attempting to save him using ropes, while authorities are also exploring drone assistance to ensure a safe evacuation.

The incident took place at Thakurpur, Prem Nagar, in Dehradun district, in northern India's Uttarakhand, on September 16.

Visuals show that a man is stranded on an electric pole in the flooded river, and rescue operations are underway. Officials can be seen using ropes to save the stranded individual, and drones are also being considered to assist in the rescue.

Speaking to Newslions, Laxmman Thapliyal, Inspector Team Commander, 15BN NDRF Gadarpur, US Nagar, Uttarakhand, stated that around 4 am, a laborer went near a river to freshen up. Suddenly, the water level rose, and to save his life, he climbed an electric pole. There was a stand on the pole, and he held onto it, standing there.

At around 7 am, we received information about the situation. Locals had first tried to help him but were unsuccessful, so we were called. The distance from our location was only 8 km. Initially, we tried to reach him with a rope, but the river’s current was too strong. Then we tied a nylon rope to a stone, threw it near the electric wire, and attached our static rope to it. Using this, we pulled the victim toward us.

The victim tied 2-3 knots in the rope, after which we secured our side of the rope to a hoarding in the middle of the river. Our officials then approached him using monkey crawling, put a chest harness on him, and, with a pulley, we pulled him to safety.

The entire rescue operation took almost two hours. We started around 7 am and completed it by 9 am. I led the operation, and the person we rescued was Head Constable Manmohan Singh. His hands had gone numb from holding the pole for so long, so we immediately sent him to the hospital. After a short time, he recovered, and we handed him over safely to his family.

The Tons River, where the incident unfolded, stands as the largest tributary of the Yamuna. Rising from the Bandarpunch peak and its glacier in the Garhwal Himalayas, the river cuts through rugged terrain before merging with the Yamuna near Kalsi in Dehradun district.

Currently, its heavy flow and flood-like conditions have posed severe obstacles to rescue teams attempting to save the stranded man. Swift, forceful currents have made the operation particularly dangerous, demanding coordinated efforts from local authorities and disaster response units.

Officials are prioritizing safety measures to ensure the individual’s recovery without further risk. Meanwhile, residents in nearby areas have been strictly cautioned to avoid venturing near the riverbanks until conditions stabilize. The Tons, normally a lifeline for the region, has turned treacherous under monsoon pressure, highlighting the unpredictability of Himalayan rivers during extreme weather.