From Titanic To IIT-anic: Flooded Campus In Roorkee Sees Students ‘Engineer’ Innovative Transport | Watch

Last Updated:July 10, 2026, 20:38 IST

Viral clips capture a group of hostel residents and mess workers successfully navigating heavily waterlogged roads using a makeshift floating platform

As torrential monsoon downpours continue to disrupt normal life across Uttarakhand, students and staff at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee have found a characteristically ingenious way to manage the deluge. Videos from the inundated campus have surfaced online, leaving social media users thoroughly amused by the community’s creative transit system.

The viral clips capture a group of hostel residents and mess workers successfully navigating heavily waterlogged roads using a makeshift floating platform. The spontaneous invention has transformed the premier engineering institute into a temporary boating arena, highlighting classic Indian resourcefulness in the face of infrastructure challenges.

The ‘Kasturba Bhawan’ Ferry Service

The flooding occurred following consecutive days of relentless precipitation in Haridwar district, which left several campus lawns, sports fields, and connecting roads submerged under knee-deep water. The viral footage, filmed primarily near Kasturba Bhawan—a prominent multistorey residential hostel on campus—shows individuals balancing on a large, flat Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) plank and a polycarbonate roofing sheet.

To steer the improvisational vessel across the waterlogged stretch, two people positioned themselves at either end, using long wooden poles and pipes as makeshift oars. The temporary arrangement was reportedly assembled so that hostel mess staff could safely cross the flooded entry gates to reach the kitchens and prepare lunch for the students without wading directly through dirty floodwaters.

A Memorable Monsoon Moment

• The Soundtrack: Adding a touch of cinematic humour, online creators overlaid the viral footage with the iconic track “My Heart Will Go On" from the film Titanic, drawing widespread chuckles across digital platforms.
• The Atmosphere: Despite the structural inconvenience, the overall mood on campus remained light-hearted, with other students seen playing football in the swampy fields nearby.
• Official Response: The institute’s media cell confirmed the authenticity of the videos, clarifying that the clips were indeed shot on campus and that the students were simply finding a safe, enjoyable way to handle the weather-induced disruption.

Severe Weather Alerts Persist

While the makeshift boat provided a light-hearted interlude online, the broader weather situation across Uttarakhand remains severe. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has maintained a red alert for several districts, warning of intense spells of rain and potential flash floods.

With regional rivers flowing close to the danger mark and over a hundred transport routes disrupted statewide, local administrations have advised residents and pilgrims to defer non-essential travel. For the engineers at IIT Roorkee, however, the immediate challenge was solved with basic physics, a sturdy plank, and a pair of long poles.

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News viral From Titanic To IIT-anic: Flooded Campus In Roorkee Sees Students ‘Engineer’ Innovative Transport | Watch

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