In the present study, the dialdehyde carboxymethyl cellulose (DCMC) was cross-linked covalently to gelatin via the Schiff base reaction to form a three-dimensional hydrogel (DCMC-cl-G). The crosslinking degree of DCMC and gelatin was estimated to be 50.31 ± 2.65. The maximum swelling capacityof the hydrogel in aqueous medium was around 74 g/g at pH 10.0 and 37^°C with equilibrium swelling attained in three hours and the compressive strength of the hydrogel was found to be 55 ± 0.76 kPa at 60% strain. The biodegradation studies confirmed 82.67% degradation of the hydrogel sample within a period oftwelve weeks. Further, the hydrogel was evaluated as a bio adsorbent for the removal of hazardous dyes, namely Rhodamine B (RhB) and Methyl Violet (MV) from water due to its decent swelling capacity and good mechanical strength. The maximum percentage of RhB and MV removed from the respective dye solutionsusing DCMC-cl-G hydrogel was 96.5% and 90% at pH 6.0, respectively. Both dyes followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm, which considers monolayer adsorption of adsorbate over adsorbent, with a pseudosecond-order kinetic model.