Uttarakhand Cyberattack Cripples Government IT Systems, Over 186 Websites Down For 72 Hours

In Dehradun, Uttarakhand, a sudden cyberattack has severely impacted the state's entire IT infrastructure, rendering over 186 key government websites inoperable. This includes crucial services like the Chief Minister's Helpline and Apuni Sarkar, which provides numerous online services to citizens. The attack has effectively paralyzed government operations, halting work in various offices, including the secretariat, and causing significant disruption across departments. The assault was extensive, affecting secure internet services such as the Uttarakhand State Wide Area Network (UK SWAN) and compromising the critical State Data Center. As government websites began shutting down sequentially, panic ensued among citizens and officials alike. Nikita Khandelwal, Director of the Information and Technology Development Agency (ITDA), confirmed that the government is in the process of scanning the affected websites to ensure security. While she assured that data remains secure, the specifics of the attack are still under investigation. By late evening, experts were able to temporarily restore UK SWAN, but stability was short-lived. Citizens seeking access to essential services via "Apuni Sarkar" faced frustrations, with the platform down for over 72 hours, highlighting the urgent need for a robust cybersecurity framework in the state.