Uttarakhand flood rescue ops: 10 key things to know

At least 170 workers, the majority of them at the NTPC plant, continue to be missing

As many as 26 people were killed and over 200 people were still missing in massive flooding in the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers that followed after what is seen as glacier burst in Joshimath of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. The deluge damaged five bridges, several homes, an NTPC power plant and a small hydropower project in Rishiganga. National and state disaster relief forces have been deployed among ITBP forces, Army and Navy teams for rescue operations.

Here are the 10 key things to know:

1. At least 171 workers, the majority of them at the NTPC plant, continue to be missing even as 27 labourers were rescued from a tunnel by a team of ITBP forces. A multi-agency operation to rescue an estimated 34 people trapped inside a big tunnel at Tapovan is underway.

2. Officials said that connectivity in the region had also been hit after a bridge collapse in Reni village. "There is an accessibility issue because it's a tough terrain. By road, only two teams could manage to reach Joshimath, the remaining teams were airlifted. It's difficult to predict how long, but rescue operation can possibly take 24-48 hours," NDRF DG SN Pradhan told ANI.

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3. Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat on Sunday visited the affected district and said the cause of the disaster was still known. A team of scientists, flown to Dehradun after the glacier burst in Uttarakhand, left for Joshimath area on Monday for surveillance and reconnaissance. The chief minister also announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the family of the victims.

4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed support for the state, saying "India stands with Uttarakhand and the nation prays for everyone's safety there." Home Minister Amit Shah had also offered assistance. PM Modi also met with the Uttarakhand BJP MP Anil Baluni.

5. NTPC had said that hydropower still under construction was also destroyed by an avalanche near Tapovan in Uttarakhand.

6. National Crisis Management Committee on Sunday assured that information from the Central Water Commission had shown no dangers of downstream flooding. They said that the dramatic rise in water levels had been contained and was no threat to the neighbouring villages.

7. The rescue operation was underway on Tuesday as several people continue to remain trapped in the aftermath of floods. On Sunday, hospitals in the region were alerted and the medical team were deployed at the rescue sites. Army columns were also sent in for the rescue operation.

Read | Chamoli: Yet another wake-up call

8. Even though it may take time to find out the exact cause behind the disaster, the massive flood possibly caused by the glacial outburst in Uttarakhand once again puts the spotlight on the ecological fragility of the hill state, which faces multiple climate change threats on one hand while battling the consequences of large scale development work on the other.

9. The floods are a stark reminder of Kedarnath floods in 2013 and the fragile ecosystem of the state. In Kedarnath, the cloudburst had resulted in massive rains and floods that resulted in the loss of many lives.

10. A 2019 study covering 40 years of satellite observations in the sub-continent had said that the Himalayan Glaciers were melting at a rapid rate, almost at twice the rate.