The glacier burst in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district has caused severe devastation after it triggered massive flooding in the Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers on Sunday. At least 15 people have died due to the flooding caused by the glacier burst and close to 150 people are still missing.
An operation to rescue people trapped in a tunnel near the Tapovan dam is currently underway and heavy machinery is being used to clear the debris. A total of 15 people have been rescued, but the death count could go up as local administration said that over 150 people are still missing.
Read | Joshimath glacier collapse: Could it happen again?
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has also intensified the search operation at the second tunnel near Tapovan dam, while the Indian Air Force has also resumed relief and rescue operation.
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2.24 pm: The Uttarakhand administration has released a list of 119 missing people.
2.10 pm: An ITBP top official told India Today that 4 JCBs have removed debris from the Tapovan tunnel where at least 30 workers are trapped. "By 4 pm, we will be able to clear the slush and then send our teams and dog squad inside," he said. Meanwhile, Ashok Kumar, DGP Uttarakhand, said the missing workers were probably from eastern UP and Bihar. "I have been contacted in this regard that 30 of these people (missing) are from Lakhimpur Kheri," he said.
1.45 pm: Expressing solidarity with those affected by the glacier burst in Uttarakhand, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the whole country was with the people of the state. "The whole country is with Uttarakhand. The most important thing right now is that relief operations are not hindered in the next few days," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. "I am with those affected with all my heart and pray for your safety," he said.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 8, 2021
1.20 pm: The Geological Survey of India said prime facie glacial calving at highest altitude in Rishiganga and Dhauliganga areas led to the disaster in Uttarakhand. "Post this devastation, we will again constitute a committee as it is too early to predict regarding the cause of incident. One of our officers is already in Dehradun. We're also planning to constitute a team of experts who will visit the site and undertake a physical recce and use the data that is available through satellite imageries," ANI quoted DG, Geological Survey of India, as saying.
12.50 pm: The ITBP has also deployed sniffer dogs at the Tapovan tunnel that will help them detect lives trapped underneath better. Since Monday morning, 6 Mi-17, 1 ALH and 1 Chinook sorties have been carried out till now. About 122 personnel with 5 tonnes of load have been transported from Dehradun to Joshimath.
Starting from 6:45 am today, 6 Mi 17 sorties, 1 ALH sortie and 1 Chinook sortie have been carried out. Transportation of required load from Dehradun to Joshimath, including 122 personnel, around 5T of load and 6 rescue canines, has been completed: Indian Air Force #Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/mwcKUHlccy
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2021
12.31 pm: Uttarakhand Police on Monday said 202 people have been missing following the glacier burst-triggered deluge. "Operation to rescue an estimated 34 people trapped inside another tunnel at Tapovan is being carried out. Response teams are clearing the tunnel that has been blocked with slush, debris and silt, and are inching closer towards the stuck workers," police said.
12.05 pm: NDRF DG SN Pradhan said rescue operation was underway in a 2.5 km-long tunnel at Tapovan. "Problem lies with debris that is gradually being cleared. 27 people alive, 11 dead and 153 missing. Out of 153, 40-50 are stuck in the tunnel. There is a possibility of remaining people being washed away in Uttarakhand," ANI quoted Pradhan as saying.
11.20 am: Uttarakahnd DGP Ashok Kumar said 143 people were still missing and efforts were focussed at the moment on rescuing 30-35 people trapped in a 250-metre long tunnel at Tapovan, PTI reported. "153 people were missing from the two hydel projects at Raini and Tapovan out of which 10 bodies have been recovered while 143 are still missing," Kumar said.
11.10 am: Speaking to India Today, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhryal Nishank said rescue operations had picked up pace. "About 100 mts have been cleared inside the tunnel. We are hopeful of rescuing people, including senior officers, inside alive. PM Modi and Home minister are monitoring situation. All resources are being made available," Nishank said.
10.50 am: Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat said around 203 people were still missing and 11 dead bodies have been recovered. "Rishiganga project at Raini completely washed away. Five km from there is under-construction Tapovan project. As of now, around 203 people missing, 11 bodies found. There was a subsidiary company at Tapovan with 24-25 people, no information on them till yesterday," he told ANI. Meanwhile, two more bodies have been found in Alaknanda river in Rudraprayag.
#WATCH Uttarakhand: ITBP jawans clearing the tunnel in Tapovan, Joshimath.
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2021
(Video Source: Indo-Tibetan Border Police) pic.twitter.com/a0PZknhpvc
10.00 am: Army personnel, including members of the Engineer Task Force, worked all night using earth movers and the mouth of the tunnel was cleared. Field Hospital is providing medical aid at site. Here are some visuals from the operation:
9:42 am: Rescue operations are also underway on the second day at Joshimath in Chamoli where a flash flood was triggered by a glacier burst on Sunday. While people were rescued from one tunnel yesterday, the second tunnel is being cleared with the help of JCB machines to rescue trapped people.
9:35 am: The total confirmed death toll has increased to 15 after another dead body was recovered by a rescue team on Monday. The death toll could rise further as local administration said earlier that over 150 people are still missing after yesterday's flash flood caused by the glacier burst.
In Pics | Dam damaged, huge flood in Uttarakhand glacier disaster; 10 dead, several missing
9:33 am: Rescue operations have been intensified as 30 people are reportedly trapped in one of the tunnels of the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project. ITBP spokesperson Vivek Pandey has told ANI that the search operation to trace the missing people are underway and more teams will be deployed if required. "We are focusing on rescuing people from the tunnel first," he said.
9:22 am: The United Nations has offered condolences to those affected by the Uttarakhand flooding. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that he is “deeply saddened” by the loss of lives due to the glacier burst and expressed condolences to the families of victims affected in the disaster. The UN chief also said that it is ready to contribute to ongoing rescue and assistance efforts if necessary.
9:20 am: Relief and rescue operations have going on in full swing a day after massive flooding was triggered in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district due to a glacier burst. The Indian Air Force, ITBP and SDRF are trying to trace and rescue people who went missing after the sudden flooding was triggered yesterday.