Today, at the tunnel near Tapovan dam here in Chamoli district, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) removed the debris and slush following the glacier burst that led to heavy flooding in the Dhauliganga and Alaknanda rivers. In the affected regions, ITBP, Indian Army, and NDRF forces are also participating in the retrieve.
“A team of scientists of DRDO-SASE, flown in last night to Dehradun, is leaving for the Joshimath area for surveillance and reconnaissance,” a Home Ministry official said on Monday.
About 203 people are missing, including 11 dead bodies that have now been found. We were not informed until yesterday of a subsidiary company’s Tapovan initiative. We predict that 35 individuals are trapped in another tunnel. Rescue operation underway: Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat Rawat Rawat Rescue operation underway.
Uttarakhand: ITBP jawans in Tapovan, Joshimath. Clearing the tunnel. (The Indo-Tibetan Frontier Police Video Source)
#WATCH Uttarakhand: ITBP jawans clearing the tunnel in Tapovan, Joshimath.
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2021
(Video Source: Indo-Tibetan Border Police) pic.twitter.com/a0PZknhpvc
Starting from 6:45 am today, 6 Mi 17 sorties, 1 ALH sortie and 1 Chinook sortie have been carried out. Transportation of required load from Dehradun to Joshimath, including 122 personnel, around 5T of load and 6 rescue canines, has been completed: Indian Air Force #Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/mwcKUHlccy
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2021
Today, Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar said there was no need for fear to spread. Yesterday, the glacier exploded, accompanied by boulders and rubble that washed away the Raini power plant, causing a major effect on Tapovan. Yesterday, all of this happened. 32 people from the first project and 121 people from the second project are absent. Of these, 10 skeletons, 3 from Tapovan and 7 on the road to Karnprayag, have been recovered so far. 12 people were saved yesterday from a smaller tunnel in Tapovan. In order to open the bigger tube, attempts are ongoing. Debris is being cleared from this location,’ he said.
Uttarakhand: Rescue operation continues on the second day at Joshimath in Chamoli where a flash flood, triggered due to glacier burst, occurred y’day.
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2021
12 people were rescued from one tunnel y’day. The second tunnel is being cleared with the help of JCB machines to rescue people pic.twitter.com/WEe0qA6rXi
The water stream of the Dhauli Ganga river at Joshimath flowed at a dangerously high level, breaking all records, officials of the Central Water Commission said after a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke down in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, leading to major floods. In the Alaknanda river basin, the glacial burst caused an avalanche and a deluge that swept away hydroelectric stations and stranded over 100 employees who are feared dead. In a brief span of time, the speed of the river’s flood was such that it engulfed whatever came in its path.