Uttarakhand disaster LIVE: Death toll 32; search, rescue operation underway

Uttarakhand flood latest news: 31 bodies have been recovered from different areas that were affected by the glacier burst in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand

2:49 AM

Uttarakhand flash floods due to hanging glacier collapse: Initial study

The flash floods in Uttarakhand two days ago was due to the collapse of a hanging glacier, initial observations by scientists at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology suggests.
 

A hanging glacier is a body of ice that breaks off abruptly at the edge of a precipice or steep slope.
 

"The event happened in a hanging glacier, adjacent to Raunthi glacier, which originates from Raunthi/Mrigudhani peak (6,063 metres above sea level)," Kalachand Sain, director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, said.
 

The observations also suggest that rock mass weakened over a period of time due to freezing and thawing of snow must have led to the creation of a "weak zone", triggering its collapse, which resulted in the formation of a temporary dam that eventually breached, causing the deadly floods.
 

Two teams of five glaciologists are studying the reasons behind Sunday's disaster. They also undertook a helicopter survey on Tuesday.
 

The glaciers around the area feed the Rishiganga river, which meets the Dhualiganga river.
 

The death toll in the Uttarakhand disaster rose to 32 with six more bodies being recovered, officials said Tuesday, as multiple agencies raced against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel at a power project site and 174 people remained missing.
 

About 600 rescue workers are involved in the operation, two days after the sudden flood in the Alaknanda river system in Chamoli district that was possibly triggered by an avalanche or glacier burst. PTI
 

2:48 AM

4 workers from Jharkhand missing in Uttarakhand glacier burst

At least four workers from two villges of Ramgarh district in Jharkhand are missing in Uttarakhand since the glacier burst, its deputy commissioner Sandeep Singh said.
 

The four belong to Chikad and Sagrampur villages which are near Chief Minister Hemant Soren's native village Nemra.

There is no news of them yet, he said.
 

While three of them belong to Chikad village, one hailed from Sangrampur.
 

Local villager Rupa Devi has, however, claimed that six pesons from the area are missing since the calamity.
 

Meanwhile, Rinse Devi of Chikad village told PTI that her husband Birse Mahato along with three other labourers had gone to Chamoli to work in NTPC's Tapovan project on January 6 this year. She said that she had a coversation over phone with Mahato on Saturday night. There was no conversation on Sunday as her phone developed glitches.
 

Relatives of labourers who are missing have left for Uttarakhand on Tuesday, officials said.
 

Soren had on Monday assured the people that the Jharkhand government will provide all help to the labourers hit by the natural disaster at Chamoli. PTI
 

11:36 PM

Uttarakhand disaster: ITBP personnel provide ration items to Pang village

11:21 PM

Uttarakhand disaster: Toll rises to 32, race against time in tunnel rescue op

The death toll in the Uttarakhand disaster rose to 32 with six more bodies being recovered, officials said Tuesday as multiple agencies raced against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel at a power project site and 174 people remained missing, according to PTI. About 600 rescue workers are involved in the operation, two days after the sudden flood in the Alaknanda river system in Chamoli district that was possibly triggered by an avalanche or glacier burst.

In Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Centre is working in close coordination with the Uttarakhand government. "Rescue operation to evacuate these people is going on a war-footing and all-out efforts are being made for searching missing persons, he said, as per PTI. The State Emergency Operation Centre said six bodies were found Tuesday, taking the death toll to 32, and 174 people are still missing.

9:46 PM

Uttarakhand disaster LIVE: Have prepared report, sent it to MHA, says Defence Geo Informatics

A complete ice sheet hanging on the mountain fell down along with it lot of landmass came on the river valley & moved towards downstream. We have prepared an initial report on what has happened in the area and have sent it to the headquarters & MHA. There are a number of glaciers in that area & the glacier that had burst was a hanging glacier: Lokesh Kumar Sinha, Director, Defence Geo Informatics Research Establishment.

8:55 PM

A joint team of ITBP, Army, SDRF and NDRF in Tapovan tunnel in Chamoli for rescue

8:50 PM

Uttarakhand glacial burst: 31 bodies found so far, 197 missing, search operations continue

As many as 32 bodies have been recovered so far from different areas hit by the glacier burst in Chamoli district, while 197 people are still missing, Uttarakhand Police said.

 

"197 people are missing. 32 bodies recovered so far from various locations, 8 of these identified," police said.

 

The police also issued a helpline number to provide information about bodies that have not been identified yet, ANI reported.

 

"People, who know someone who is missing, can contact DIG Law and Order on +91 7500016666, they will be sent photos of 24 bodies that are yet to be identified, on WhatsApp," police said.

 

A joint team of ITBP, NDRF, SDRF and other agencies conducting rescue operations used drone cameras to see feasibility to enter beyond cleared site inside Tapovan tunnel. They haven't been successful so far. Machines deployed to clear slush, said ITBP.

8:20 PM

Uttarakhand disaster LIVE: Cleared up 60 m inside tunnel

8:02 PM

Death toll climbs to 31 in Uttarakhand disaster, CM meets affected villagers

The death toll from the Uttarakhand disaster rose to 31 with the recovery of five bodies on Tuesday, the State Emergency Operation Centre said, even as the operation to rescue around 30 workers feared trapped inside a tunnel at the Tapovan power project in Chamoli district continued.

 

The State Emergency Operation Centre said 175 people are still missing after the Sunday's disaster, apparently caused by a glacier burst.

 

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) earlier said its personnel recovered two bodies from debris in Raini village on Tuesday morning. READ ON...

7:50 PM

BJP's Baluni meets power minister to discuss rehabilitation in Uttarakhand

BJP MP Anil Baluni met Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh on Tuesday to discuss the damage caused by the flash floods in Uttarakhand following a possible glacier burst, and how the ministry can further help the affected people, according to PTI. Baluni, a Rajya Sabha member from Uttarakhand, said they discussed the ways in which the people in the region can be helped and how the area can be rebuilt.

 

They also discussed the damaged caused at the NTPC plant by the floods.

 

A portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, triggering an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations and endangered lives of people living along the banks. As many as 20 people have died while 197 are missing in Sunday's avalanche and flashfloods, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

7:18 PM

Search and rescue operation underway at Tapovan tunnel in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand

7:09 PM

12 persons rescued in Uttarakhand by ITBP discharged from hospital

Twelve people, who were rescued by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on February 7 after glacier burst incident in Uttarakhand, got discharged on Tuesday from 1st Battalion ITBP Joshimath hospital.

 

"A mother of a rescued becomes emotional explaining her feelings about life-saving rescue by ITBP men from a tunnel on February 7. All 12 rescued have now been discharged from the 1st Battalion ITBP hospital, Joshimath," ITBP said in a tweet.

 

ITBP also posted a video along with the tweet.

 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat also visited 1st Battalion ITBP Joshimath Hospital today to meet the people rescued on February 7 from a tunnel near Tapovan in Chamoli district of the state.

6:34 PM

93 NTPC workers missing in Uttarakhand glacier burst incident

Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh on Tuesday said that 93 workers of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited are missing, while 39 are still stuck in the Tapovan tunnel in the Uttarakhand glacier burst incident.

 

"93 NTPC workers are missing, 39 still stuck in the tunnel, we are trying to reach them. We are planning to install Early Warning System as a precautionary measure against avalanches," Singh told ANI. "Financial aid of Rs 20 lakhs will be given to the deceased's family," he added.

 

The rescue operation is underway at Tapovan tunnel in Joshimath, Chamoli. Earlier today, a joint team of ITBP, Army, NDRF, and SDRF entered the Tapovan tunnel to check the water level inside the tunnel ahead of the point where the debris has been cleared.

6:05 PM

Uttarakhand glacial burst: A joint team of ITBP, NDRF, SDRF and other agencies conducting rescue operation

6:04 PM

Uttarakhand tragedy: Haryana CM gives Rs 11 crore from CM's Relief Fund

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday gave Rs 11 crore as financial aid from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Fund in the wake of the glacier tragedy in the hill state, PTI reported. In this hour of tragedy and crisis, the Haryana government stands with Uttarakhand, and every possible help will be given to the state to deal with the disaster, Khattar said in an official statement said here.

 

A glacier burst at Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday triggered an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations. The death toll has climbed to 31 as multiple agencies race against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel in a power project site and 175 people are missing.

5:53 PM

Villagers suspect radioactive device behind Uttarakhand's Chamoli disaster: TOI

Villagers of Raini village in Tapovan area of Chamoli have expressed concerns that Sunday’s flash floods may be the result of heat being produced by a radioactive device, The Times of India reported on Tuesday.

5:42 PM

Uttarakhand flood disaster: 70 from UP, including 34 from Lakhimpur Kheri, missing

At least 70 people from Uttar Pradesh are feared missing in the glacier burst at Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district that triggered an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations on Sunday, officials said. Of the 70 people, 34 are from Lakhimpur Kheri district alone.

 

"As of now, 70 people from Uttar Pradesh are feared missing, including 34 from Lakhimpur Kheri, nine from Saharanpur and five from Shravasti," Relief Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh Sanjay Goyal told PTI on Tuesday.

 

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sent a team of three ministers to Uttarakhand for better coordination with the state in carrying out relief works after the disaster, an official spokesperson said here.

5:16 PM

Uttarakhand flood tragedy: 15 people from Jharkhand missing

Fifteen people from Jharkhand are missing in the aftermath of the flash floods in Uttarakhand, an official said on Tuesday. According to Home Minister Amit Shah, 26 bodies have been recovered so far after the flood near Joshimath in Uttarakhand. A landslide triggered the avalanche leading to the tragic incident, Shah said on Tuesday.

 

The family members of people missing in Uttarakhand have approached the Jharkhand government for assistance.

 

According to an official in the state headquarters, nine people from Lohardagga district and six people from Ramgarh district have been missing since Sunday. They were in Uttarakhand for the NTPC project work on January 23. The missing people's mobile phones are switched off and the family members have been unable to establish contact with them.

5:02 PM

Collapse of rock mass weakened due to freezing may have caused Uttarakhand's flash floods: Scientists

A rock mass, weakened due to years of freezing and thawing of snow, may have led to the creation of a weak zone, triggering its collapse that resulted in flash floods in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, initial observations by scientists of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) suggest.

 

The crashing rock mass also brought earth and mounds of snow with it. The friction may have resulted in heating, which could have caused the floods, the observations suggest.

 

Scientists from the institute conducted a helicopter survey of the area to find clues as to what led to the deadly flash floods that swept everything in its way. So far, the flash floods have claimed 31 lives with around 175 people still missing.

4:45 PM

Senior citizens stuck in Paing village as floods wash away bridge to Joshimath in Uttarakhand

Several senior citizens in Paing village in Chamoli lost connection with other members of their families who had gone to the city when the bridge connecting the city with the village was washed away due to the flash floods after the glacier burst. Most women from Paing village go for the Polio vaccination drive every day to Joshimath and senior citizens are left at home, according to ANI.

 

The floods have separated almost all families. The last communication between them was around 2 days back. Due to the absence of electricity, the locals are facing difficulty in charging their phones which has added to their troubles.

 

According to the locals, there are almost 70-80 senior citizens stuck in the village which is situated on the other side of the bridge and road that has been swept off, leaving women at the side of the Tapovan tunnel where rescue operations are on.

 

4:02 PM

Glacier breaks off: Photos of search and rescue operations in Uttarakhand

The glacial burst, which triggered a flood on the Rishiganga river in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, has caused an estimated damage of Rs 1,500 crore to government infrastructure, according to Union Power Minister R K Singh. READ MORE...

 

3:41 PM

Medical assistance being provided to 13 villages cut off due to Uttarakhand glacier incident: Amit Shah

Necessary supplies and medical assistance is being provided through helicopters to 13 villages in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district that have been cut off due to the glacier burst incident, Union Minister Amit Shah informed on Tuesday.

 

"Due to the washing away of one bridge,13 villages around the place of the incident have been cut off. In these villages necessary supplies and medical assistance are being provided through helicopters," the Home Minister said while addressing the Rajya Sabha.

 

Shah further informed that electricity has been restored in almost all the affected areas and restoration work of five completely damaged bridges has been initiated by the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

3:14 PM

Landslide triggered snow avalanche in Uttarakhand: Amit Shah

Even as over 26 bodies have been recovered after the flood near Joshimath in Uttarakhand so far, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said a landslide triggered the snow avalanche leading to the tragic incident in the state. The Minister said the landslide triggered snow avalanche covering approximately 14 square km area and caused a flash flood in the Rishiganga river downstream in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, PTI reported.

 

He further said that the incident was observed from the satellite data (Planet Lab) of February 7, 2021 (Sunday) in catchment of Rishi Ganga river at the terminus of the glacier at an altitude of 5,600 metres.

 

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the tragedy that occurred at 10 a.m. on Sunday, the Minister said the avalanche hit the upper catchment of Rishiganga river, a tributary of Alaknanda river in Chamoli, leading to a sudden rise in the water levels of Rishiganga river.

2:57 PM

197 persons missing, many dead in Uttarakhand flood: Home Minister Amit Shah

As many as 197 people are missing while 20 people have died due to floods in Uttarakhand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

 

In a separate tunnel in the NTPC project, it is estimated that around 25 to 35 people are stuck inside, he said, adding "rescue operation to evacuate these persons is going on a war footing and all-out efforts are simultaneously being made for searching missing persons".

 

Making a statement in the House "regarding an avalanche in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand", the Union minister said these inputs were based on the information received till Monday 5 pm from the state government.

2:38 PM

Central, State agencies monitoring Uttarakhand glacier burst aftermath: Amit Shah

Respective agencies of the Centre and State are monitoring the situation in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district where a glacier burst resulted in a massive avalanche and flashflood, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

 

"All agencies of the Centre and State are monitoring the situation. A total of 450 jawans of ITBP, five teams of NDRF, eight teams of Indian Army, a Navy team and five helicopters of the Indian Air Force are engaged in search and rescue operation," he said.

 

While speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the Home Minister further informed the first instalment of the State Disaster Risk Management Fund of Rs 468 crore, allocated to Uttarakhand for the Financial Year 2020-21, has been sanctioned to the state.

 

"In the Financial Year 2020-21, Rs 1,041 crore has been allocated to Uttarakhand under the SDRF fund. The first instalment of Rs 468 crore, has already been sanctioned to the state. We are taking all necessary precautions to step up safety and rehab work," he added.

2:13 PM

Uttarakhand disaster: Death toll rises to 31, race against time to rescue those trapped in tunnel

The death toll from the Uttarakhand glacier disaster rose to 31 with five more bodies being recovered, officials said on Tuesday as multiple agencies raced against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel in a power project site and 175 people remained missing. Two of the bodies were recovered from the debris in Raini village, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials said, two days after a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier possibly burst its banks and triggered an avalanche and floods in the Alaknanda river system.

 

The State Emergency Operation Centre said five bodies were found in the morning, taking the death toll to 31, and estimated that 175 people are still missing. With the hours ticking by inexorably, fears escalated about those missing since the disaster struck on Sunday morning, according to officials who stepped up efforts to locate survivors.

1:41 PM

Death toll rises to 31 in Uttarakhand disaster, CM Rawat meets affected villagers

The death toll from the Uttarakhand disaster rose to 31 with the recovery of five bodies on Tuesday, the State Emergency Operation Centre said, even as the operation to rescue around 30 workers feared trapped inside a tunnel at the Tapovan power project in Chamoli district continued, PTI reported on Tuesday.

 

The State Emergency Operation Centre said 175 people are still missing after the Sunday's disaster, apparently caused by a glacier burst. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) earlier said its personnel recovered two bodies from debris in Raini village on Tuesday morning. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat visited Lata in Chamoli district on Tuesday to meet the residents of the avalanche-hit villages.

Rawat, who reached Tapovan on Monday evening to review rescue efforts, undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas on Tuesday and also met 12 workers who were rescued from the tunnel on Sunday evening. Around half a dozen people were injured in the Sunday avalanche.

1:15 PM

Members of Rajya Sabha pay tribute to victims of Uttarakhand glacier disaster

1:09 PM

Adityanath deputes three UP ministers to Uttarakhand for coordinating relief works

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday sent a team of three ministers to Uttarakhand for better coordination with the state in carrying out relief works after the glacier disaster, an official spokesman said here.

 

A portion of the Nanda Devi glacier possibly burst through its banks in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, leading to an avalanche and a deluge that ripped through the Alaknanda river system in the upper reaches of the ecologically fragile Himalayas. Twenty-eight bodies have been recovered so far and around 170 others are missing.

 

"The chief minister has made a committee of three ministers to visit Uttarakhand for better coordination with the state. The members of the committee included Suresh Kumar Rana, Vijay Kashyap and Dharam Singh Saini, who have left for Uttarakhand on Tuesday," he said.

1:06 PM

All concerned agencies of Centre and State are monitoring the situation, says Amit Shah

All concerned agencies of Centre and State are monitoring the situation: Union Home Minister on avalanche in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, in Rajya Sabha