A glacial outbreak in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand triggered an avalanche and massive flooding along the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers on Sunday morning, forcing the emergency evacuation of thousands of people from the surrounding areas and damaging houses and the nearby Rishiganga power project.
Between 100 and 150 people may have died in the flash flood, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Om Prakash told the ANI news agency.
Five teams from the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), one from Dehradun and four from Delhi, as well as two from the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) have been deployed for search and rescue operations, and authorities fear that there are still hundreds of them. stuck.
Around 200 SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) personnel have also been deployed.
More than 150 workers working on the Rishiganga power project, which was affected by the floods, are missing, SDRF DIG Ridhim Aggarwal told the PTI news agency.
“The representatives of the energy project have told me that they cannot contact about 150 of their workers at the project site,” he said.
Authorities also fear for the safety of workers employed in ongoing rail and road projects in the area.
An alert has been sounded for all downstream districts, and people from Vishnuprayag, Joshimath, Karnprayag, Rudraprayag, Rishikesh and Haridwar have been warned not to visit the river banks.
Rafting has been discontinued in Rishikesh.
Interior Minister Amit Shah tweeted and said all possible help would be provided.
“Regarding the natural disaster in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister TS Rawat and I have spoken with the Directors General of the ITBP and the NDRF. All concerned officials and organizations are working on a war footing to ensure that people are safe. NDRF teams have left for rescue operations and all possible help will be provided, “Shah tweeted.
उत्तराखंड में प्राकृतिक आपदा की सूचना के सम्बंध में मैंने मुख्यमंत्री @tsrawatbjp जी, DG ITBP व DG NDRF से बात की है। सभी सम्बंधित अधिकारी लोगों को सुरक्षित करने में युद्धस्तर पर काम कर रहे हैं। NDRF की टीमें बचाव कार्य के लिए निकल गयी हैं। देवभूमि को हर सम्भव मदद दी जाएगी।
– Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 7, 2021
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat called on people not to panic or spread rumors, noting that district administration, police and disaster response teams were dealing with the situation.
“Pay no attention to rumors of any kind. The government is taking all necessary measures,” Rawat tweeted on Sunday morning, adding that he was on his way to survey the affected regions.
“If you are trapped in the affected area, if you need any assistance, please contact the Disaster Operations Center at 1070 or 9557444486. Please do not spread rumors of old videos about the incident,” Rawat tweeted.
आप 1905 पर भी सम्पर्क कर सकते हैं https://t.co/WnpJRbcUek
– Trivendra Singh Rawat (@tsrawatbjp) February 7, 2021
With contributions from ANI, PTI
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