150 feared dead in flash floods after glacier burst in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli

at 6:52 pm

(Updating earlier copy)

New Delhi (NVI): Around 100-150 people are feared dead, including labourers working at a power project, after a glacier burst at Reni village of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand triggered massive floods in the Dhauliganga river in Joshimath area.

According to officials, about 150 labourers working at Rishi Ganga Power Project dam site in Joshimath are missing after huge flash floods in the Dhauliganga river. The incident took place at Reni village near Tapovan in Chamoli district.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Om Prakash said around 100-150 people are feared dead due to the flash floods.

Earlier, Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar said the loss of up to 50 people is feared in the glacier incident in Chamoli, while some people have been rescued. He said the Rishi Ganga Power Project was completely destroyed in the massive flash floods.

The avalanche caused a sudden rise in water level in the Dhauliganga river which damaged Tapovan Power Project in Chamoli district, as per officials.


Videos shot by local residents went viral on social media showing gushing waters of Dhauliganga river in Chamoli district’s Joshimath area after the water level rose following a glacier burst.

A team of ITBP personnel has been rushed to the spot. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has also left for the spot and has urged people not to panic. Rawat has also appealed to people to not share old videos of flooding and create panic on social media.


Uttarakhand CM said that a disaster was reported at Raini village at around 10:45 am, affecting two dam sites in Chamoli. “Immediate instructions were issued to take stock of the situation and take emergency measures. Simultaneously, state’s disaster response mechanism was activated,” he said in a series of tweets.

“Flow from Tehri dam was stopped to facilitate smooth passage of rising waters on RishiGanga & Alaknanda. All the villages & low lying areas on the banks were vacated & water flow from Srinagar dam was increased to manage higher water flows due to disaster,” he tweeted.

Chamoli police has also appealed to people living near the banks of Alaknanda river to move to safer places.

Meanwhile, Army has also joined in rescue operations. As per the Ministry of Defence, four Army columns, two medical teams, one Engineering Task Force deployed have been at Ringi village. Army helicopters also on an aerial recce of the affected area.

“Indian Army has deployed choppers & troops for supporting Uttarakhand govt & NDRF to tackle the flood. Military station near Rishikesh actively involved in coordination of rescue & relief operations with local administration. Army headquarters monitoring the situation,” the Army said in an official statement.

Expressing concern over the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is constanty monitoring situation in Uttarakhand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing a rally in Assam’s Sonitpur when the reports of massive flooding in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli first came in.

“Am 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,” he tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that extra teams of NDRF were being airlifted from Delhi to Uttarakhand, adding that the Government is monitoring the situation in the area constantly.

-ARK

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