Himalayan Glacier: Rescue Operations continue as more than 100 are missing

Lahore, 7th February: 100 to 150 people are missing after a Himalayan Glacier burst in India.

Baaghi TV: According to reports from AFP, three people have lost their lives while up to 150 others are reportedly missing in India after a Himalayan glacier broke and swept away a hydroelectric dam on Sunday forcing flash floods in the region.

#WATCH | Water level in Dhauliganga river rises suddenly following avalanche near a power project at Raini village in Tapovan area of Chamoli district. #Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/syiokujhns

— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2021

Om Prakash, chief secretary of Uttarakhand, told Reuters, “The actual number has not been confirmed yet but 100 to 150 people were feared dead.”

A witness has reported that a wall of dust, rock and water roared down the Dhauli Ganga river valley located more than 500 km (310 miles) north of New Delhi after the glacier burst.

The witness told Reuters over a phone call, “It came very fast, there was no time to alert anyone, I felt that even we would be swept away.”

Uttarakhand’s Police Chief Ashok Kumar informed reporters that more than 50 people working at the dam, the Rishiganga Hydroelectric Project, were feared dead though some others had been rescued.

Kumar also said authorities had evacuated other dams to contain the water rushing in from the flooded Alakananda river.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was closely monitoring the situation.

India’s air force is issued orders to carry out the rescue operations. Whereas, the army soldiers have been deployed and it’s helicopters were doing an aerial survey of the area.

India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh has put its riverside areas on high alert.

Footage shared by locals showed the water surging down and washing away parts of the Rishiganga dam and whatever else came in its path.

Videos on social media showed water rushing through a small dam site, washing away the construction equipment.

It is to be noted that Uttarakhand in the Himalayas is prone to flash floods and landslides. In June 2013, record rainfall caused devastating floods that claimed close to 6,000 lives.

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