Nanda Devi Glacier burst in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Sunday. This led to the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers flooding near Reni village. The houses near the riverbank have been destroyed. Residents had already been evacuated as a safety measure on CM Trivendra Singh Rawat’s instructions. The CM called for an emergency meeting immediately after the mishap and made sure necessary action was taken without delay. On hearing the news, PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah extended their support after taking stock of the situation and coordinated with CM Rawat for any assistance he would require. The Tapovan dam and a bridge constructed by BRO are feared to have been swept away in this calamity. ITBP, NDRF and 3 additional teams have been tirelessly working for the rescue operation with the help of IAF.
18 people have been reported dead, and more than 200 are missing as per the latest updates. These mainly comprise the labourers from Bihar and UP. 16 people stuck in a Tapovan tunnel have been rescued successfully so far. The neighboring state Uttar Pradesh is on high alert as a safety measure to avoid more casualties. IMD has also been on its toes to update the weather in the coming days. They have predicted light rainfall on February 9 and 10. Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has decided to donate his match fee in the ongoing series against England to contribute to the rescue efforts.
