New Delhi (NVI): The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been working round the clock on 200-ft bailey bridge to re-establish connectivity in Chamoli district with Niti border, following the flash flood after a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier burst in Uttarakhand.
The BRO teams part of Project Shivalik are also deployed in the area for relief operations.
The extend to avalanche and deluge in the Alaknanda River System on February 07, 2021, washed away Hydroelectric stations and trapped many workers in Chamoli district, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
There was sudden flood in the middle of the day in the Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers, all intricately linked tributaries of the Ganga. This triggered widespread panic and large-scale devastation in the high mountain areas, it added.
According to the ministry, the flash flood also washed away a 90-metre span RCC bridge on Joshimath-Malari road located just downstream of the Rishi Ganga Hydel project and approximately two kilometres upstream of the Tapovan Hydel project, which was the only link to Niti border.
Also, washing away of the bridge has stranded more than 13 border villages in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, it said.
Following all this, BRO has quickly swung into action for rescue and rehabilitation work by inducting more than 100 Vehicles/Equipment and plants which include about 15 Heavy Earth Moving Equipment like Hydraulic Excavators, Dozers, JCBs, Wheel Loaders, etc., the ministry noted.
Besides, 200 personnel of 21 BRTF of Project Shivalik being deployed for rescue and rehabilitation purposes. The organization has also Air inducted critical equipment with the help of Indian Air Force.
After initial recce, the BRO has started work for re-establishing connectivity on all required fronts, the ministry said, adding that, “The site is very challenging due to steep cliff on far bank and 25-30-metre-high debris or muck on the other side.”
However, the BRO has overcome these challenges and on the fourth day has cleared and established a path for construction of bridge abutment.
Furthermore, the organization is also assisting Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) & National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in rescue operations, the statement added.
-RJV
