Glacier burst: Did the rising number of dams in Uttarakhand trigger the disaster? After the 2013 floods, a committee set up by the Supreme Court recommended that no more dams be constructed in the State. Despite that, since 2013, five dams have been built on the Alaknanda river, which suffered the glacier burst on February 7 Several feared missing as glacier breaks in Uttarakhand's Joshimath. (Picture Credits: IANS) Almost eight years after floods in Uttarakhand claimed close to 5,700 lives, around 10 people lost their lives and over 150 are missing following a glacier burst and flash floods on the Alaknanda river in the State’s Chamoli district.