News Analysis India

Tag: Uttarakhand Glacier Burst

  • Water levels surge up in Dhauli Ganga once again

    By PTI
    TAPOVAN: The water level in the Dhauli Ganga river surged up once again on Sunday night under the impact of the glacial burst during the day, creating panic among people living in the area.

    The sudden surge in the water level in the Dhauli Ganga at around 8 pm prompted authorities to suspend rescue operations underway at a project site in the vicinity of the river for the time being.

    ALSO READ: Efforts underway to rescue 30-35 workers trapped in tunnel

    Rescue efforts, focussed on extricating 30-35 people trapped in the debris clogging one of the tunnels at the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project, will be resumed on Monday morning, the GM of the project said.

    Swirling waters of the river gurgling downwards are causing fear among people living in the area, he said late Sunday night.

  • Uttarakhand glacier burst: A tranquil morning turned into tragedy for villagers

    By PTI
    RAINI: It was a tranquil winter morning in Raini village until the residents were jolted at around 10 AM on Sunday by a loud sound and the sight of huge torrents of water and sludge in the Rishi Ganga river hurtling towards them.

    “Before we could make out what was happening, the raging muddy waters of Rishi Ganga had devastated the landscape,” says 50-year-old Dharam Singh, a resident of the village.

    The scenes brought back to the people horrifying memories of the 2013 Kedarnath deluge that killed thousands.

    Many were feared swept away in the sudden floods on Sunday including those who were working near the river.

    ALSO READ: ‘Nayi zindagi mili’ – ITBP rescues workers stuck in flash-flood hit tunnel

    Three residents of the village including a 75-year-old woman identified as Amrita Devi who had gone out to work in her field close to the bridge on Rishi Ganga are missing since the avalanche struck after the Nanda Devi glacier burst.

    Others missing include Yashpal Singh of Valli Raini who had gone to the fields to graze his livestock and disappeared along with them.

    Ranjit Singh, 25, of the village who worked in the Rishi Ganga hydel project is also missing after the avalanche.

    The avalanche destroyed the project commissioned in 2020.

    ALSO READ: Efforts underway to rescue 30-35 workers trapped in tunnel

    A major motorable bridge on the main border road was also washed away.

    Pradeep Rana of Juwa Gwan village said Sanjay Singh, a resident of the same village who had gone out to the fields to graze his goats, is also missing.

    Some ancient temples built about 20 metres above the confluence of Rishi Ganga and Dhauli Ganga rivers have also been swept away by the violent avalanche.

    Umeli Devi, 34, who had come from Nepal to work in the Rishi Ganga hydel project said ten of her colleagues had been swept away in the avalanche.

    She said male members of her family who worked as labourers in the power project are all missing.

    Dharam Singh of Raini said as the deluge came gurgling loudly it sent a chill down the spine of people living in the area who find it hard to forget the 2013 tragedy.

    The forest area of Nanda Devi National Park has also suffered great devastation due to the avalanche, he said.

    While seven bodies were pulled out from the power project tunnel, at least 125 people were still missing in the affected areas.

    Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said the numbers could be higher.

  • Uttarakhand glacier burst: Armed forces press in men, machine for rescue operation in Chamoli

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The glacial burst in Chamoli on Sunday has led to major devastation and loss of life. The Armed Forces, Army, Air Force and Navy have moved in their specialised teams with equipment to carry out rescue operations.

    Army personnel has entered along with the specialised equipment at Ringi Village near Joshimath.

    Four army columns, two medical teams, one engineering task force deployed at Ringi village. Two more columns were put on standby.

    Army aviation’s two cheetah helicopters have been put on aerial recce while an Engineering Task Force with two JCBs have been deployed.

    A medical column with two ambulances, and a control room has been set up at Joshimath.

    The Indian Air force has moved in 60 persons of National Disaster Relief Force with 5 ton load from Hindon to JollyGrant Airport in IAF C130. One more C130 and a AN 32 has been madea available at Hindon for deployment of additional NDRF teams.

    Three IAF Mi-17 have been positioned at JollyGrant to airlift NDRF teams to Joshimath.

    The Navy also has moved in a specialised team for rescue operations. “MARCOS teams, 16 personnel at New Delhi and 40 at Mumbai ready for deployment.” Field hospital has been made ready for receiving casualties.

    Many labourers are said to be trapped in Tapovan Tunnel as it was completely blocked by debris. CAPF Personnel have been tasked to remove the debris to rescue the trapped labourers.

    The incident of glacial fall in the river Rishiganga took place at around 10:45 am leading to rise of water levels which washed away the Rishiganga small hydro project of 13.2 MW. 

    The flash flood also affected the downstream hydro project of NTPC at Tapovan on the river Dhauliganga.

  • Uttarakhand glacier burst: IMD says no adverse weather over affected areas on February 7, 8

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The MeT department Sunday said no adverse weather events are expected over Chamoli, Tapovan and Joshimath in Uttarakhand on February 7 and 8, in a relief for the area hit by a major glacier burst.

    India Meteorological Department (IMD) Additional Director General Anand Sharma said Chamoli, Tapovan and Joshimath are likely to witness dry weather during the two days.

    PRESS RELEASE : WEATHER FORECAST FOR UTTARAKHANDDry weather is likely to prevail over Uttarakhand on 7 & 8 Feb. However, under the influence of a Western Disturbance, light rainfall/ snowfall is likely over northern part of Uttarakhand during evening of 9th to forenoon of 10th.
    — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) February 7, 2021

    “No snowfall/rainfall is likely on February 7-8,” the IMD said in its special weather advisory for the state.

    However, light rainfall/snowfall is likely in the northern parts of the Chamoli district on February 9-10, the advisory added.

    Over 150 labourers working at a power project in Tapovan-Reni are feared dead, an Indo-Tibetan Border Police spokesperson said after a part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off at Joshimath in Chamoli Sunday.

    ALSO READ | High alert in UP as glacier breaks off in neighbouring Uttarakhand

    The glacier burst led to a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river and caused large-scale devastation in the upper reaches of the ecologically fragile Himalayas.

    Officials said three bodies have been recovered so far and a massive relief and rescue operation is underway.