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The clips that have gone viral capture a group of hostel residents and mess workers successfully navigating heavily flooded roads using a makeshift floating platform
The temporary arrangement was reportedly put together so that the hostel’s dining staff could safely cross the flooded entry gates to reach the kitchens and prepare lunch for the students without wading directly into the dirty flood waters. Photo: Videograb/X
As heavy monsoon rains continue to disrupt normal life across Uttarakhand, students and staff at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee have found an ingenious way to manage the deluge. Videos from the flooded campus have surfaced online, leaving social media users thoroughly entertained by the community’s creative transportation system.
The viral clips capture a group of hostel residents and food workers successfully navigating heavily flooded roads using a makeshift floating platform. This spontaneous invention has transformed a pioneering engineering institute into a temporary boat yard, highlighting classic Indian resourcefulness in the face of infrastructural challenges.
The rain showed color so that the roads became lakes, and a new destination for contemplation was found in the city of books. The future engineers of IIT Roorkee did not give up on the situation, wherever the world saw water, they launched modern boats there. pic.twitter.com/UuF4rza7VF
– Ashok Shera (@ashokshera94) July 10, 2026
Kasturba Bhawan ferry service.
The floods occurred after consecutive days of incessant rainfall in Haridwar district, leaving many campus lawns, sports fields and connecting roads submerged under deep water. The viral footage, filmed primarily near Kasturba Bhawan — a prominent multi-storied residential hostel on the campus — shows individuals balancing on a large flat plank of wood-plastic (WPC) and polycarbonate roof panels.
To guide the improvised vessel across the waterlogged expanse, two people positioned themselves at either end, using long wooden poles and pipes as makeshift oars. The temporary arrangement was reportedly put together so that the hostel’s dining staff could safely cross the flooded entry gates to reach the kitchens and prepare lunch for the students without wading directly into the dirty flood waters.
An unforgettable monsoon moment
- Soundtrack: To add a touch of cinematic humour, online content creators overlaid the viral footage with the famous song “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic, sparking widespread laughter across digital platforms.
- Atmosphere: Despite the structural disturbance, the mood on campus remained light, as other students were seen playing soccer on the nearby swampy fields.
- Official response: The institute’s media cell confirmed the authenticity of the videos, explaining that the clips were actually filmed on campus and that the students were simply finding a safe and fun way to deal with the disturbances caused by the weather.
Severe weather alerts continue
While the makeshift boat provided a mild break online, the broader weather condition across Uttarakhand remains severe. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) maintained a red alert in many areas, warning of heavy rains and possible flash floods.
With regional rivers flowing close to the danger mark and more than a hundred transport routes disrupted across the state, local administrations have advised residents and pilgrims to postpone non-essential travel. However, for engineers at IIT Roorkee, the straightforward challenge was solved through basic physics, a sturdy wooden plank, and a pair of tall poles.
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