Nearly 150 people are missing or “feared dead” as a sudden flood inundated a power project at Reni village in Joshimath area of Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Sunday 7 Feb following a glacier burst.
The Indo Tibetan Border Police is currently engaged in rescue and relief operations there.
At least 10 bodies have been recovered so far from the spot, and several people have been rescued, while that there is no information about other persons.
Many of those rescued were workers involved in the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited’s Rishi Ganga Power Project at Tapovan work site at the time. Many workers continue to remain trapped inside a tunnel at the spot, and a rescue operation is currently on.
The tragedy took place after the water level in Dhauliganga river, one of the six sources of the Ganga river, suddenly surged on Sunday morning following an avalanche near the Rishi Ganga power project. The 85 km river meets the Alaknanda river at Vishnuprayag at the base of Joshimath mountain.
The ITBP said that the flash flood occurred in Rishi Ganga at around 10.45 a.m. due to a glacier falling into it and exponentially increasing the volume of water.
Due to this, the Rishi Ganga hydro project was completely devastated, it said.
Some 250 personnel of ITBP are carrying out rescue and search operations on the site. The paramilitary force said connectivity of its Border Outposts was totally restricted due to the bridge destruction near Reni village.
“The BRO bridge on Joshimath highway was also completely washed away. There were six graziers with their livestock there and they were also swept away by the flash flood,” an ITBP spokesperson said. “Rishi Ganga meets Dhauliganga near Reni village. So Dhauliganga also got flooded. Five to six houses of the village were also washed away. Two ‘Jhula’ bridges connecting villages on the other side of the river were also washed away.”
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#WATCH | Uttarakhand: ITBP personnel rescue one person who was trapped in the tunnel near Tapovan dam in Chamoli.
Rescue operation underway.
(Video Source: ITBP) pic.twitter.com/RO91YhIdyo
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2021
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, who put the number of missing at 125, expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the incident and declared Rs 4 lakh compensation to the family of those whose bodies have been recovered from the spot. Rawat, who visited the spot, is taking stock of the situation and supervising rescue and relief operations.
Though the impact of the disaster may not be felt in Rishikesh and Haridwar, the temple towns have been put on alert.
A government spokesman said that there was not much human habitation at the site where the glacier broke apart, but a number of power projects have been hit.
The government has appealed to the people not to venture near the Ganga river.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have spoken to the Chief Minister to take stock of the situation in the state.
The Prime Minister, during his Assam tour, reviewed the situation in Uttarakhand during a telephonic conversation with Rawat and other top officials, and the rescue and relief work underway.
The Prime Minister, in a tweet, said that he is constantly monitoring the unfortunate situation in Uttarakhand.
“India stands with Uttarakhand and the nation prays for everyone’s safety there. Have been continuously speaking to senior authorities and getting updates on NDRF deployment, rescue work and relief operations.”
Rescue operation underway at the tunnel near Tapovan dam in Chamoli to rescue trapped people. #Uttarakhand
(Pic courtesy: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/lcKlHdcNn3
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2021
Meanwhile, Home Minister Shah said that four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are being airlifted to Dehradun to reach Joshimath.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for next of the kin of all those who have lost their lives in the massive flash flood caused by a glacier breach near Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district.
Also announced was Rs 50,000 compensation for those who were seriously injured in the disaster. These amounts will be provided to the victims from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) which is utilised to render immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison took to Twitter, extending support to India “at this very difficult time.”
Devastating news for India and @narendramodi following flash flooding in Uttarakhand. Australia stands with one of its closest friends at this very difficult time. https://t.co/uOnnHMAazY
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) February 7, 2021
IANS
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