Rescue operation underway after a glacier broke in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
New Delhi:
India today rushed to deploy its various forces in search, rescue and rescue operations in Uttarakhand, which is facing a major disaster following the outbreak of a glacier in Chamoli district. While three bodies have been found after the day’s events, more than 150 people were said to be missing.
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed to the Joshimath area, according to SN Pradhan, Director General of the NDRF. “The NDRF has already moved from Dehradun to Joshimath. We are organizing an airlift for 3-4 more teams from Delhi to Dehradun and then to Joshimath,” he said, according to ANI.
Six columns, about 600 personnel, from the Indian army were already moving into the flood-affected areas, authorities said. The Army has also deployed helicopters to support government operations. Two medical teams have joined the operations, while a task force of engineers has been dispatched to Ringi village.
The military station near Rishikesh, they said, was actively involved in coordinating rescue and relief operations with the local administration, even as Army headquarters were monitoring the situation.
Three helicopters, including two Mi-17s and an ALH Dhruv helicopter, from the Indian Air Force (IAF) were stationed in Dehradun and nearby areas for rescue operations. More aircraft will be deployed as required, IAF officials said according to ANI.
Indo-Tibetan Border Patrol (ITBP) personnel had arrived in the Tapovan and Reni areas shortly after the flash floods occurred.
“More than 200 jawans are working and working in collaboration with the local administration. A team is on site to assess the situation,” said ITBP spokesman Vivek Pandey. “Another team is deployed near Joshimath to raise awareness and evacuate people. The situation is under control.”
The rupture of the glacier has caused an avalanche and massive flooding along the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers, forcing the emergency evacuation of thousands of people from the surrounding areas and damaging houses and the nearby Rishiganga power project. The upper reaches of the Rishiganga project have also been damaged, according to NDRF chief Pradhan.
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