New Delhi (NVI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat this morning conducted an aerial survey of areas affected due to the glacier disaster in the state, to take stock of the situation.
CM Rawat has also released Rs 20 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund for relief and rescue operation.
A glacial broke in the Tapovan-Reni area of Chamoli District of Uttarakhand on Sunday, which led to massive flooding in Dhauliganga and Alaknanda rivers and damaged houses and the nearby Rishiganga power project.
Meanwhile, rescue operations continued through Monday night as ITBP, NDRF and Army personnel worked to locate around 170 people, mostly labourers working at two power projects.
Reportedly, about 35 people are believed to be trapped inside the 1,900-metre-long tunnel at NTPC’s Tapovan site.
About 100 metres inside the tunnel is cleared and accessible, and it looks like about 100 metres of debris more will have to be cleared.
Nearly 300 ITBP personnel are currently deployed at the site.
A barrage at the project site was washed away in the flood which resulted in water rise up to 70 feet, leading to debris blocking the 20-feet-wide opening of the tunnel.
According to the State Emergency Control Room, as many as 26 bodies have been recovered so far from the project sites of NTPC’s Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Power Project and the privately owned Rishiganga power project.
-CHK
