Uttarakhand flood: Scientists highlight the need to improve monitoring of glaciers
Gathering baseline data will help in understanding the hydrology, geology and climate change response of Himalayan glaciers. The site of a destroyed hydroelectric power station in Raini village of Uttarakhand. | Anshree Fadnavis/ Reuters
As authorities race to rescue people trapped in Uttarakhand, following a devastating landslide-induced flash flood on February 7, scientists have called for deciphering the possibility of glacier-related hazards and enhance the capabilities of monitoring and early warning in the high mountain areas.
Scientists in a review published on February 2, before the floods, stressed on improved in situ monitoring network for weather, hydrology and glacier change as a crucial requirement for predicting the future of this resource and associated hazards and their impact on regional water, energy and food security.
URL copied Image Source : PTI
Rescue operation continue at damaged Tapovan hydel project tunnel, following Sunday s glacier burst at Joshimath causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand
Three bodies were recovered on Sunday from the Tapovan tunnel following a seven-day operation to rescue around 30 people trapped in it after a flashflood-hit Joshimath area of Chamoli district, senior officials said.
These are the first bodies to have been recovered from the tunnel where people were at work when the calamity occurred last Sunday.The recoveries take the toll in the disaster to 41.  A massive search and rescue operation has been underway in the tunnel at Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project site.
UPDATED: February 14, 2021 08:06 IST
Rescue operations continue at Tapovan tunnel where 30 people are trapped after flash floods in Uttarakhand. (PTI)
Rescuers on Saturday began boring a wider and deeper hole into the tunnel at the flood-ravaged Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project in an attempt to reach the over 30 people trapped inside for nearly a week.
“The Silt Flushing Tunnel (SFT) was punctured on Friday night itself by drilling a 75mm-diameter hole into it but now it is being widened to 300 mm so that a camera and a water flushing pipe could be inserted into the tunnel where the trapped are possibly located,” news agency PTI quoted General Manager of the NTPC project R P Ahirwal as saying.