Nearly 150 people are missing or “feared dead” as a sudden flood inundated a power project at Reni village in Joshimath area of Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Sunday following a glacier burst, the ITBP, which is engaged in rescue and relief operations there, said.
Citing updated inputs received from local administration, ITBP spokesperson Vivek Pandey told IANS at least 10 bodies have been recovered so far from the spot, and several people have been rescued, while that there is no information about other persons.
In its initial information received from the spot, the ITBP had, through a statement that “more than 100 labourers at the barrage and 50 plus in the tunnel lost their life as per the incharge of Tapovan NTPC work site… As many as 150 people are missing”. Clarifying these inputs, Pandey told IANS: “As 150 people are still missing, it is difficult to say that all are dead. They can be said ‘feared dead’ or ‘missing’. Missing persons cannot be declared dead till seven years.”
A wall of dust, rock and water hit as an avalanche roared down the Rishiganga valley deep in the mountains of Uttarakhand, a witness told news agency Reuters. “It came very fast, there was no time to alert anyone,” Sanjay Singh Rana, who lives on the upper reaches of the river in Raini village, told the agency. “I felt that even we would be swept away.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the tragic avalanche. He also announced Rs 50,000 from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the people who were seriously injured.
“PM @narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the tragic avalanche caused by a glacier breach in Chamoli, Uttrakhand. Rs 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured,” the office of the Prime Minister tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the nation that relief work is in full progress following the glacier burst in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district and every attempt is being made to help the affected people.
Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met on Sunday evening in New Delhi to review the situation of Uttarakhand after a glacier broke in Joshimath in the Chamoli district, causing huge flooding of the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers. This flood caused massive damage to the nearby NTPC power plant and several homes in the area.
In the wake of the natural disaster, the Cabinet Secretary chaired an NCMC meeting late on Sunday evening, which was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Power, DG ITBP, Chief IDS, members of NDMA, DG NDRF, Chairman CWC, DG IMD and Chairman DRDO, along with other senior officers. Chief Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand also joined the meeting with his team of officers through video conferencing.
The Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand briefed the committee on the ground situation as well as the actions taken by them after the incident to evacuate people and to contain the damage caused by the flooding due to the glacial burst.
The Cabinet Secretary directed the concerned agencies to work in close coordination and extend all requisite assistance to the state administration. He emphasized the need to account for all missing persons and ensure that those trapped in the tunnel are rescued at the earliest. He directed that surveillance should be maintained till rescue efforts are completed and the situation returns to normalcy.
The Chairman of the Central Water Commission informed the members that there is no danger of downstream flooding and the rise in water level has been contained and that there is also no threat to the neighbouring villages. At the same time, concerned agencies of the Centre and the State were asked to keep a strict vigil on the situation. A team from DRDO, which monitors avalanches, is being flown in for surveillance and reconnaissance. MD, NTPC has been asked to reach the affected site immediately. It was further informed that around 12 persons trapped in a tunnel have been rescued by the ITBP, while efforts are on to rescue others trapped in another tunnel, which is being coordinated by the Army and ITBP. Efforts are being made to ensure that all missing people are traced and accounted for.
Two teams of the NDRF are en route and three additional teams have been flown in from Hindon, which will reach the spot later at night. More than 200 ITBP personnel are on the spot, and the Engineering Task Force (ETF) of the Army with all rescue equipment has been deployed. Navy divers are being flown in too and aircrafts/helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) are on standby.
During the meeting, IMD informed that there is no rainfall warning in the region for the next two days.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS