Uttarkhand flash floods: 14 dead, 170 missing

Mangalore Today News Network / Yahoo

Chamoli, Feb 08, 2021:     Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Sunday, 7 February, was struck by tragedy after flash floods triggered by a glacier burst left at least 14 dead and at least 170 missing. A total of 15 people have been rescued and 14 bodies have been recovered from different places so far, Chamoli Police said on Monday morning.

 

While authorities expect the death toll to rise, most of the missing individuals are believed to be workers working at the Rishi Ganga power project. The breach has triggered massive flooding along Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers.

At least 12 people, who were trapped in the Tapovan Tunnel following the breach, were rescued by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), while many others remain trapped.

Extensive Operations Underway; Bodies Still Being Recovered

The Uttarakhand state government and the Centre sprung into action with Prime Minister Narendra Modi having discussed the situation with Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat four times on Sunday.

Along with the ITBP, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force (IAF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) have also been deployed for the search and rescue operations.

Indian Air Force PRO Wing Commander Indranil Nandi told ANI that all the specialised personnel who were airlifted from Delhi have reached Dehradun.

Amrendra Kumar Sengar, IG NDRF said that a lot of bodies are still being recovered since they are away from the incident site due to a speedy and strong flow of water.

Two C-130J Super Hercules with three companies of NDRF and 15 tonnes of other loads and equipment were sent from Hindan airbase in Ghaziabad to the affected areas. An additional ALH deployed at Joshimath has undertaken reccee of affected areas, according to the Indian Air Force twitter handle.

An Air Commodore-rank officer has been deployed at Jolly Grant by Air Force as Task Force commander to coordinate aerial effort for rescue operations.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat is monitoring military efforts for rescue operations. The military station near Rishikesh is coordinating the rescue and relief operation. The situation is also being monitored by the army headquarters. About 600 army personnel have been sent to flood-affected areas.

ITBP Rescues 12 People From Tapovan Tunnel; Eight Bodies Found

At least 12 people were rescued from the Tapovan tunnel while many others remain trapped, after it was blocked following the glacier burst, the ITBP said on Sunday. Meanwhile, ANI reported on Monday morning that eight bodies have been recovered from the rescue operation in Tapovan’s Dhauliganga.

The 30 people are said to be trapped in tunnel number 1.

ITBP Public Relations Officer (PRO) Vivek Pandey told ANI that initially 16 people were reported to be rescued but there were only 12.

Earlier visuals shared by the ITBP showed personnel helping people clamber out of the tunnel. ITBP personnel were later seen carrying rescued persons on stretchers to the nearest road for medical treatment.