Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said saving lives and extending all help to the families of the deceased is the state government s priority. Union ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and R K Singh as well as Pauri MP Tirath Singh Rawat, Uttarakhand minister Dhan Singh Rawat also met the affected families in disaster-hit Tapovan and Raini and assured them of all support.
Two power projects NTPC s 480 MW Tapovan-Vishnugad project and the 13.2 MW Rishi Ganga Hydel Project were extensively damaged with scores of labourers caught in tunnels as the waters came rushing in.
Rescue efforts in the affected areas near Joshimath, about 295 km from here, gained momentum with teams of the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) coordinating to rescue 30-35 people feared trapped in a tunnel at the Tapovan-Vishnugad project.
Uttarakhand glacier burst update: Over 150 missing, death toll hits 15; rescue ops underway
An operation to rescue people trapped in a tunnel near the Tapovan dam is currently underway and heavy machinery is being used to clear the debris.
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Nearly 15 people have been confirmed dead and 150 are still missing 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.
What Happened in Uttarakhand?
The tragedy took place after the water level in Dhauliganga river, one of the six sources of the Ganga river, suddenly surged on Sunday morning following an avalanche near the Rishi Ganga power project. The 85 km river meets the Alaknanda river at Vishnuprayag at the base of Joshimath mountain.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that State Government’s priority right now is saving lives of people and experts can tell the reason behind the outburst. “Experts can tell the reason behind the glacier outburst. But our Government is right now focused on saving lives of people,” he said. The glacier burst led to the increase in the water level of Dhualiganga river, and subsumed nearby villages.
Rishabh Pant to donate match fee for Uttarakhand glacier burst victims
Nearly 150 people were still feared missing and many killed and as many as 10 bodies have been recovered after the tragic incident that took place on Sunday morning.
By IANS
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Pained by the loss of lives in the massive flash flood caused by a glacier breach near Joshimath in Uttarakhand s Chamoli district, India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has decided to donate his match fee of the ongoing first Test against England in order to contribute towards the rescue efforts.
Rishabh Pant was impressive against England Lions and West Indies A in England.Tony Marshall/Getty Images
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. The dam is called Tapovan Hydro-Electric Power Dam. It is on the confluence of Dhauli Ganga and Rishi Ganga. As per the recce Tapovan dam also called Rishi Ganga Project has been completely washed off, said the report. It said that two bridges at the entrance of Malari valley and near Tapovan are also washed away, while the main road between Joshimath to Tapovan is intact.