Dehradun, Feb. 7 (UNI) A substantial part of the Nanda Devi glacier burst at Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Sunday, causing huge floods in Dhauli Ganga and Alaknanda rivers which led to massive devastation in the Himalayan region. More than 150 people, including labourers working at the Rishiganga power project in Tapovan-Reni and a few shepherds, are feared killed. At least 10 bodies have been recovered so far by the rescue teams.
The Rishiganga hydro power project of 13.2 MW capacity was washed away and a downstream project of NTPC at Tapovan was damaged as the glacial break triggered an avalanche and the waters gushed down with ferocity from the mountain sides, sweeping away many homes. Nearby villages were evacuated and rescue teams shifted people to safety. The glacier burst revived memories of 2013 massive floods in Kedarnath area when a swollen Mandakini river caused large scale devastation and hundreds of people lost their lives.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) teams carried rescued persons on stretchers to the nearest road and took out all 16 persons who who were trapped in a tunnel near Tapovan in Chamoli earlier in the day. ITBP, which has a base at Joshimath, and units of the State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force have been deployed at the spot. Teams of the Indian Air Force and Army have also joined the rescue operations.