An avalanche following a glacial burst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, about 650 kilometres from here, on Sunday morning caused a massive flood and damaged two hydro power projects on Rishiganga and Dhauliganga rivers trapping hundreds of workers at the projects, and triggering alert in the districts along the Ganga river in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
According to reports, around 100 to 150 workers, who were at work at the two projects, were 'missing'.
Officials in Uttarakhand's capital Dehradun said that the under construction 24 MW hydro power project at Reni village in Chamoli district was damaged after the avalanche triggered after the Nandadevi Galicer broke causing a massive flow of water in Rishiganga river. The huge water, which was mixed with the debris, then damaged another under construction hydro power project at Dhauliganga river near Tapovan, about ten kilometres away.
As the flow of water in the tributaries of the two rivers increased suddenly, an alert was sounded in the areas near the rivers downstream from Tapovan to Haridwar and the people had been asked to move to the upper regions.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) along with the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were deployed in the affected areas to undertake relief and rescue operations, officials said.
Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, who has rushed to the affected areas, said that all possible help was being provided to the affected people and asked the public not to spread rumours and share old videos of similar tragedies. He also said that the flow of water from Tehri Dam has been stopped to prevent any sudden increase in the water levels in Rishiganga and Alaknanda rivers.
Choppers were also deployed in the rescue operations by the Indian Air Force. Uttarakhand chief secretary Om Prakash said that there was no cause for panic. The state government has released emergency helpline numbers to enable the people to seek help. They are 91-1352410197, 91-18001804375, 91-9456596190.
Officials said that rafting had been put on hold in Ganga river in Rishikesh and the local administration was informing the people to stay alert through loudspeakers.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and assured him of all possible support to deal with the situation.
In a series of tweets in Hindi, Shah also said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed for rescue and relief operations of the affected people while additional troops of the force are being airlifted from Delhi.
"I have spoken to Chief Minister @tsrawatbjp ji, DG ITBP and DG NDRF regarding the natural disaster in Uttarakhand. All the concerned officers are working on a war footing to secure the people. NDRF teams have left for rescue operations. Every possible help will be provided to 'Devbhoomi'," he said.
Shah said the central government is constantly monitoring the situation in Uttarakhand.
"Some more teams of NDRF are being airlifted from Delhi and sent to Uttarakhand. We are constantly monitoring the situation there," he said.
An alert was also sounded in the districts situated on the bank of the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and boating was banned in the river until the situation improved, the officials said in Lucknow.
With PTI inputs
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