New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI): Twelve workers were rescued from tunnel no. 2 while 30 workers are still trapped in tunnel no. 1 near Tapovan, said the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Sunday which was engaged in rescue operations after a part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off at Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
Explaining the ground conditions while speaking to ANI, ITBP Public Relations Officer Vivek Pandey said, “Initially when we left for the site where this disaster happened it was reported that about 150 people have been feared missing. Right now we are focusing on two areas which is tunnel number one and two of a power project in Tapovan. It was reported that 16 workers are trapped. In rescue operation 12 people were rescued from tunnel number 2. It was 900 metre-long tunnel. The snout of the tunnel was covered with debris and we rescued 12 men one by one. Initially it was reported that 16 people have been trapped but there were 12 people inside.”
Pandey said, “Out of 12, three were shifted to the hospital and now we are focusing on tunnel number 1. It is said that some 30 people have been trapped inside that tunnel.”
The official said that they will be performing night operations also so that the teams can rescue more people who are trapped.
While talking about other areas where people might be trapped due to the flash flood, the official said, “Gradually downstream, the water level fell. Right now there is no fear in terms of the effect of the flood in lowland areas, adding that people have cleared the location also.
Pandey added that ITBP is focusing entirely on that particular area that is 4 to 5 km stretch.
A total of three teams with 300 men are on the ground, he said adding that the senior officers also taking account of the entire situation.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar, according to a release said that the rescue work at the National Thermal Power Corporation’s 900-meter long Tapovan Tunnel had to be halted due to a rise in water level. (ANI)
Hanging glacier possibly broke from main part causing damage in Chamoli: DRDO scientist
Chamoli (Uttarakhand) [India], February 8 (ANI): Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist Dr LK Sinha on Monday said that a hanging glacier in Uttarakhand‘s Chamoli may have broken away from the main glacier which caused damage.
Sinha said that DRDO scientists are analysing the data to ascertain the cause of glacier burst.
“Our team did an aerial survey of the glacier where the incident took place in Chamoli. Prima facie, it looks that a hanging glacier broke away from the main glacier and came down in the narrow valley,” the DRDO scientist told ANI.
“In the valley, it formed a lake which burst later and caused the damage. The data is being analysed by our scientists in detail and if required, they would again go to get more details.” The DRDO scientist further said.
In Joshimath, the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) said, “After the bridge collapsed in Raini village during glacier burst, around 13 villages have been cut off near areas such as Malari and Ghansali. There is heavy deployment of ITBP there near the India-China border. We have alerted them.”
“The dropping of food supply underway in Lata and Raini villages. We are helping to take it further from there. Teams of the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), ITBP, and state Police are working in collaboration here,” he added.
Tapovan Hydro-Electric Power Dam, also known as Rishi Ganga Project was completely washed off following a glacier burst in the Chamoli, said the Indian Air Force’s initial report as Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) deployed at Joshimath has undertaken recce of the affected areas.
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.
PM Modi interacts with Uttarakhand MPs, discusses prevailing situation following glacier burst
New Delhi [India], February 8 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday discussed the prevailing situation in Uttarakhand following glacier burst in Chamoli with Members of Parliament from the state.
Relief efforts and future course of action over the Uttarakhand glacier disaster was discussed among other issues were discussed in the meeting which was also attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda.
According to sources, PM Modi told Uttarakhand MPs that the government and all its institutions stand with the Uttarakhand in this period of calamity and asserted all help will be extended to minimise loss of life and aid in relief efforts.
The Prime Minister said scientific studies will be conducted to understand cycle of natural calamities in the natural disaster-prone state.
“Going forward, scientific studies will be conducted to understand cycle of natural calamities in this natural disaster prone state and best practices to be adopted to minimise loss of life and property due to these calamities,” PM Modi said in the meeting, according to sources.
PMO India tweeted: “MPs from Uttarakhand, RS MP and BJP President JP Nadda, and Home Minister Amit Shah met PM Narendra Modi. They discussed the prevailing situation in Uttarakhand. The MPs expressed gratitude for the quick response and constant support of PM Modi to the state.”
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.
So far, bodies of 24 people have been recovered from different places following the avalance, Uttarakhand Police said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said a joint team of NDRF, SDRF and the Army is conducting a rescue operation.
“The team has reached the 130-metre mark in Tapovan tunnel, it may take 2-3 hours to reach the t-point. Efforts underway to safely rescue those who are stuck in the tunnel,” he said. (ANI)
