Uttarakhand floods Latest News Updates: Glacier burst leaves 14 dead, 170 missing

Uttarakhand floods Latest News Updates: Glacier burst leaves 7 dead, 170 missing

Latest News updates Uttarakhand:

*A glacier broke off in Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday. Around 170 people are missing. 14 bodies have been recovered so far. 32 people from first and 121 people are missing from the 2nd project. Out of these, 10 bodies have been recovered so far - 3 from Tapovan and 7 in the route to Karnprayag. 12 people rescued from the smaller tunnel in Tapovan yesterday. Efforts are underway to open the bigger tunnel. Debris are being removed from it.

*A glacier broke off in Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district today. Sixteen men were rescued safely from a tunnel in the Tapovan project but Around 170 people are missing. 7 bodies have been recovered so far. The government has meanwhile said the rise in water level has been contained and that there is no risk downstream flooding, Time of India report.

The flooding has forced the evacuation of thousands, and damaged both houses and the nearby Rishiganga and NTPC power projects.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has announced ₹ 4 lakh compensation for the family of those killed. Mr Rawat also said teams from the police, the Army and the ITBP, as well as from the national and state disaster response forces, were "doing their best to save the lives of the workers at sites affected by the disaster", Ndtv report.

Efforts underway to rescue 30-35 workers trapped in tunnel

Rescue efforts at present are focussed on extricating 30-35 workers trapped in a tunnel of the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project on the Dhauli Ganga river. Around 30-35 people including workers and employees of the 480 mw Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project on the Dhauli Ganga river are feared trapped inside one of the tunnels following the avalanche, Project GM RP Ahirwar said. JCBs and Pokland machines are being used to cut into the debris clogging the tunnel to rescue the trapped workers, he said.

The sudden surge in the water level in the Dhauli Ganga at around 8 pm prompted authorities to suspend rescue operations underway to extricate 30-35 people trapped in the debris clogging one of the tunnels at the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project. The rescue efforts will be resumed on Monday morning, the GM of the project said.

The sudden flood in the middle of the day in the Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers -- all intricately linked tributaries of the Ganga -- triggered widespread panic and large-scale devastation in the high mountain areas.

Video Massive flood as glacier breaks off at Uttarakhand’s Joshimath:

Two power projects – NTPC's Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project and the Rishi Ganga Hydel Project – were extensively damaged with scores of labourers trapped in tunnels as the waters came rushing in.

As night fell in the ecologically fragile Himalayas and rescue work in the difficult to access areas became more difficult, there were fears they may be dead.

According to BT, a glacier broke off in Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river and endangering the lives of people living along its banks. Massive destruction is feared.

"3 NDRF teams have reached there. More teams are ready to be airlifted to Uttarakhand from Delhi. ITBP jawans are also there. I assure the people of Uttarakhand that the Modi government stands with them in this difficult time. All help will be extended," Home Minister Amit Shah said.

PM Modi said relief work is in full progress in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, where a glacier burst, leading to a massive flood and causing large-scale devastation. The PM added that he is in constant touch with the chief minister of Uttarakhand, and is keeping track of the situation.

"Today, we are at one end of Maa Ganga. But the state of Uttarakhand, which is the origin of Maa Ganga, is facing a disaster. I am in constant touch with the chief minister of Uttarakhand, the Union home minister and officials of the NDRF," he said.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway in the Haldia area of Purba Medinipur district in West Bengal to Welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is scheduled to visit the state in later half of the day. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of key infrastructure projects in Haldia.

Dhauli Ganga river's water level at Joshimath breached all records after glacial burst

The water level of the Dhauli Ganga river at Joshimath flowed at a perilously high level, breaching all records, Central Water Commission officials said after a part of Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district leading to massive floods.

"At 11 am, the water level recorded at Joshimath was 1,388 metres," Saumitra Haldar, Chairman, Central Water Commission told PTI.

At Joshimath, which bore the fury of floods, the water level recorded at 1 PM on February 6 was 1,372.58 metres. At 6 PM on Sunday, hours after the disaster, the water level was 1,375 metres.

High alert in UP as glacier breaks off in neighbouring Uttarakhand Several districts, including Pauri, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Haridwar and Dehradun, were put on high alert and forces of the ITBP and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushed in to help with the rescue and relief effort. The personnel were seen rappelling down steep mountainsides to aid in the rescue work. The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday put on high alert the authorities in all districts on the banks of the Ganga and asked them to continuously monitor the water levels in the river after a glacier broke off at Joshimath in neighbouring Uttarakhand's Chamoli, triggering a massive flood there. The glacier burst triggered an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations, leaving at least seven people dead and 125 missing who are feared dead. In a disaster alert issued to district magistrates in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, the relief commissioner said, "Reports of breaking off a part of the Nanda Devi glacier in Uttarakhand have been received. The districts on the (banks of) Ganga river need to be on high alert and the monitoring of water level needs to be done 24x7". "If required, people should be taken to safer places. The NDRF, SDRF and PAC Flood Company have been instructed to be on the highest alert," the statement added - PTI ITBP personnel carry out search and rescue operation at Tapovan Tunnel, after a glacier broke off in Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river | PTI

Tapovan dam completely washed off

Tapovan Hydro-Electric Power Dam, also known as Rishi Ganga Project was completely washed off following a glacier burst in the Chamoli district, said the Indian Air Force's initial report as Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) deployed at Joshimath has undertaken recce of affected areas. IAF said an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) deployed at Joshimath has undertaken recce of affected areas.

Why did glacier break in cold winter month of Feb?

February temperatures can drop to below zero in the hills of Uttarakhand's Chamoli. Why, then, did a glacier break off, with disastrous effect? "In winter, glaciers remain firmly frozen. Even walls of glacial lakes are tightly bound. A flood of this sort in this season is usually caused by an avalanche or landslide. Neither seems to be the case here," Manish Mehta, senior scientist at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology said.

Tragedy could be result of ‘very rare’ bursting of water pockets in glacier

Scientists on Sunday said satellite and Google Earth images did not show a glacial lake near the region, but there was a possibility of 'water pockets' (lakes inside the glaciers) which might have burst. Though the event needs further analysis, it is unlikely to be a 'cloud burst' as weather reports in Chamoli district showed sunny weather till Sunday with no record of precipitation.

Uttarakhand Disaster: Rishikesh-Joshimath-Mana Road Reopened For Traffic

The Rishikesh-Joshimath-Mana road which was blocked at Hathipahad due to flash flood in Dhauli Ganga has been reopened late afternoon for traffic on Sunday, informed the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

"The Rishikesh-Joshimath-Mana road which was blocked at Hathipahad due to flash flood in Dhauli Ganga has been reopened for traffic by Border Roads Organisation by late afternoon today after quick road clearance operation. Several BRO teams are in the area for relief operations," said a BRO statement.

Latest Pictures Of Uttarakhand Glacier Disaster