The water level in the Dhauli Ganga River rose again on Sunday night, causing an avalanche during the day, causing panic among the people living in the area.
The sudden rise in water level in Dhauli Ganga at around 8 pm on Sunday evening prompted authorities to postpone rescue operations at a project site around the river.
Rescue efforts, focussed on extricating 30-35 people trapped in the debris clogging one of the tunnels at the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project, will be resumed on Monday morning, the General Manager of the project said.
Swirling waters of the river gurgling downwards are causing fear among people living in the area, he said late Sunday night.
On Sunday Sixteen men were safely rescued from a tunnel in the Tapovan project, but about 125 are still missing. As night fell in the ecologically fragile Himalayas and rescue operations became more difficult in difficult-to-reach areas, there were fears that they might be dead.
A portion of the Nanda Devi glacier collapsed in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Sunday, causing an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away the hydroelectric centers, killing at least seven people and missing 125 people , Whose death is feared. A sudden flood in the middle of the day in the Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers – all the complex tributaries of the Ganges – triggered widespread panic and mass destruction in the high mountain regions.
Two power projects – NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad hydroelectric project and Rishi Ganga Hydel project – were extensively damaged with scores of laborers trapped in the tunnels as the water intensified.
Sixteen men were safely rescued from a tunnel in the Tapovan project, but about 125 are still missing. As night fell in the ecologically fragile Himalayas and rescue operations became more difficult in difficult-to-reach areas, there were fears that they might be dead. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that seven bodies have been recovered and at least 125 are missing.
The houses were also washed away on the way as the water fell down the mountains in a sharp ravine. There was a possibility of loss in human settlements downstream including heavily populated areas. Many villages were evacuated and people were taken to safer areas.
By evening it was believed that the drift areas were safe and the Central Water Commission (CWC) said that there was no threat to neighboring villages. However, the water level in the Dhauli Ganga River rose again on Sunday night, sparking an avalanche during the day, causing panic among the people living in the area.
Authorities continued rescue operations to evacuate 30-35 people trapped in one of the tunnels in the Tapovan-Vishungarh waterway project due to sudden rise in water level in Dhauli Ganga at around 8 am. GM of the project said that rescue efforts would be resumed on Monday morning.
Late on Sunday night, he said that the flow of downstream river water is causing fear among people. A 13.2 MW small hydroelectric project on the Rishi Ganga was swept away by the eruption of the glacier, but there was no risk of flooding in the riverbed area as it included the water level, National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Were Gauba. , Was informed earlier in the day at an emergency meeting in the national capital.
The NCMC was also told that people trapped in one project tunnel were rescued by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), while efforts were on to rescue those trapped in the second tunnel. An official spokesman said that the operation was coordinated by the Army and the ITBP.
An ITBP spokesman said that connectivity with some border posts was completely restricted due to the collapse of the bridge near Rainy village. The Border Security Force has units located at Joshimath, which is only a short distance away, and managed to reach the spot within an hour of the first alert at around 10.45 am.
Several districts including Pauri, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Haridwar and Dehradun were put on high alert and forces of the ITBP and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which left to assist in rescue and relief efforts. The personnel were seen descending down steep hills to aid in rescue work.
India Meteorological Department said that there is no warning of rain in the region for the next two days.
As soon as the details of the disaster came, President Ram Nath Kovind said that he was concerned about the huge glacial burst at Joshimath, about 295 km from Dehradun.
“Praying for the well being and safety of the people. He is confident that rescue and relief operations on the ground are progressing well.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he is constantly monitoring the situation in the state.
“India stands with Uttarakhand, prays for the safety of all,” the PM said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has announced ₹ 4 lakh compensation for the family of those killed.