New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI): Two C-130J Super Hercules (military transport aircraft) with three companies of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 15 tonnes of other loads and equipment were sent from Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad for rescue operations following the glacier burst in Uttarakhand, said defence officials on Sunday.
The officials said that the first C-130J has landed at the Jolly Grant airport near Dehradun and the second one would be landing soon.
According to officials, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat is monitoring military efforts for rescue operations. An Air Commodore-rank officer has been deployed at Jolly Grant by the Air Force as Task Force commander to coordinate the aerial effort for rescue operations in view of the floods, they said.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has announced that state government will give financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to kin of the deceased.
At least nine bodies have been recovered from the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) site in the Tapovan area, said SS Deswal, Director General, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
“It is suspected that around 100 workers were at the site out of which, 9-10 dead bodies have been recovered from the river,” he said.
A DRDO team of snow and avalanche experts from its newly-created Defence Geo Informatics Research Establishment would be reaching the site where the flash flood occurred tomorrow to assess the situation. The team would also assess the situation in the glaciers around the site of the accident, DRDO officials said.
Seven Navy diving teams are on standby for the flash flood relief operations in the state, said the Navy officials.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring the situation after the water level in the Dhauli Ganga River increased following an avalanche near a power project at Raini village in the Tapovan area.
The avalanche was triggered after a glacial burst in Chamoli district on Sunday.
Uttarakhand glacier burst: 4 columns of Army, medical teams deployed at Ringi village
The Defence Minister’s office on Sunday said that four columns of the Indian Army and two medical teams have been deployed at Ringi Village for the rescue of people affected by the flood in the Dhauli Ganga River after a part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off at Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
Taking to Twitter, the office of the Defence Minister said, “Armed Forces have swung into action to assist agencies in the rescue operation. Two columns of Garhwal Scouts from Joshimath and two columns of 22 Grenadiers from Auli have been deployed and columns of 11 Madras are on standby at Ringi Village near Joshimath.”
A control room has been also established here to review the situation, officials added.
According to the office of the Defence Minister, the following columns have been deployed at Ringi Village near Joshimath.
* Engineering Task Force with two JCBs deployed.
* Medical Column with two ambulances.
* Army aviation – 2x Cheetah helicopters.
* Control Room established at Joshimath.
* 60 persons of NDRF moved with 5-ton load from Hindon to JollyGrant Airport in IAF C130.
* One more C130 and one AN 32 ready at Hindon for additional NDRF teams.
* Three IAF Mi-17 positioned at Jolly Grant to airlift NDRF teams to Joshimath.
* MARCOS teams, 16 personnel at New Delhi and 40 at Mumbai ready for deployment.
* Field hospital ready for receiving casualties.
An additional ALH deployed at Joshimath has undertaken recce of affected areas, said Indian Air Force (IAF).
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet that “the loss of precious lives due to the Glacier burst in Chamoli is deeply painful. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.”
A portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Sunday, triggering an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations.
U’khand glacier burst: River Alaknanda in Srinagar flowing below warning level
Amid the concerns over the avalanche triggered after a glacial burst in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Sunday, the Central Water Commission (CWC) informed that River Alaknanda at Srinagar in Pauri Garhwal is flowing ‘much below’ the warning level.
“River Alaknanda at Srinagar in Pauri Garhwal, Uttrakhand is flowing much below the warning level as the impact of Glacial Lake burst is felt only up to Joshimath,” tweeted the CWC.
Amrendra Kumar Sengar, IG National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said: “Since the flow of water was very fast initially, bodies are being recovered far away from the incident site. Some are trapped in deep areas and others in tunnels, so there is issue of access.”
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has rescued all 16 people who were trapped in the tunnel near the Tapovan area following a glacier burst.
The ITBP was carrying out the rescue operation at the tunnel near Tapovan dam in Chamoli to rescue trapped people. At least nine bodies have been recovered from the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) site in the Tapovan area, informed SS Deswal, Director General, ITBP.
“It is suspected that around 100 workers were at the site out of which, 9-10 dead bodies have been recovered from the river,” he said.
Meanwhile, seven Navy diving teams are on standby for the flash flood relief operations in the state, said the Navy officials.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to kin of those who lost their lives due to the glacial burst.
Addressing a press conference, Trivendra Singh Rawat said, “The state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to kin of the deceased.”
As it was the last day of the week (Sunday), fortunately, many workers from Uttarakhand were on week off today, he added.
Nearly 180 sheep and goats were believed to have been swept away in the flash flood, said Rawat adding five locals including three shepherds and two women who were cutting grass had lost their lives in the disaster.
“We are assuming that around 125 people are missing. The number can be higher,” Rawat said. He added that the government has all the needed assistance to handle the situation for now.
(ANI)
