Uttarakhand floods highlights: Not much progress in rescue ops; 8 of 32 casualties identified, says DGP

Rescuers from multiple agencies like the ITBP, NDRF and Army continued their operation on Wednesday to penetrate deeper through tonnes of silt to reach out to workers trapped inside the Tapovan tunnel as the toll in the Uttarakhand flash floods has mounted to 32 with over 170 missing. Two power projects in the area were also damaged.

Thank you for following Deccan Herald's live updates on Uttarakhand floods. We will see you tomorrow!

Click here for more latest updates.

ITBP recce team visits glacier-burst site; DG says tunnel op to continue till trapped are found

An ITBP reconnaissance team visited the glacier-break site on Wednesday that is suspected to have triggered the massive flash flood in Uttarakhand even as its chief S S Deswal said the rescue operation to locate the 30-35 workers trapped in Tapovan tunnel will continue till it reaches a "logical conclusion."

Deswal told PTI that the paramilitary force is "very hopeful" that the workers in the about 1,500 metre long tubular structure marked as 'head race tunnel', out of the total 2.5 km length, are safe with the help of possible air vents in the structure. (PTI)

U'khand disaster: 2 listed as missing return home safely after being stranded in Chamoli

Two persons who were listed as missing in the avalanche and flash floods in Uttarakhand returned to their homes safely on Wednesday after being stranded in different areas of Chamoli district following the calamity three days ago, officials said.

Suraj Singh from Chamoli in Uttarakhand and Rashid from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh returned to their homes on Wednesday, Additional District Information Officer, Chamoli, Ravindra Negi said. (PTI)

Uttarakhand flood: SBI General Insurance to fast-track claims

SBI General Insurance on Wednesday said it will fast-track claims for customers affected by the flash flood in Uttarakhand.

The key objective is to get customers back on their feet as soon as possible, it said in a release. (PTI)

Uttarakhand disaster: Drones and more deployed to locate workers trapped in tunnel, 174 still missing

Using drones and remote-sensing equipment, rescue teams intensified efforts on Wednesday to reach the 25-35 men trapped in a sludge-choked tunnel since the Uttarakhand glacier disaster three days ago and more than 170 remained missing, hopes of finding them alive fading with every passing hour.

Read more

Dalai Lama writes to Uttarakhand chief minister, offers sympathy, support to people

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has written to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, expressing his condolences to the families of the people killed in a glacier disaster in Chamoli district of the state.

A glacier burst at Joshimath on Sunday triggered an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that wreaked havoc and washed away hydroelectric stations. (PTI)

Uttarakhand floods: Kin of missing protest at Rishiganga power project site

The families of workers missing from the Rishiganga hydel project site created a ruckus here on Wednesday accusing the authorities of not carrying out the rescue operations properly after the sudden flood in the Alaknanda river system wreaked havoc.

The kin of around 40 missing workers engaged in a heated argument with the authorities of the project for two hours, alleging lack of urgency in the rescue work. (PTI)

JUST IN | A meeting of all agencies including ITBP, Army and local administration is being held in Joshimath to review the rescue and relief strategy.

A meeting of all agencies including ITBP, Army and local administration held in Joshimath to review the rescue and relief strategy today.

(ANI)

Family members of the people trapped in a tunnel after the flash floods shout slogans to protest alleging slow pace of rescue operation in Tapovan, Chamoli district, on February 10, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

ITBP personnel carry ration to villages cut off due to glacier burst and traversing through mountainous terrain in Uttarakhand.

(ANI)

As per Chamoli Police, few bodies have been retrieved that had reached districts of Rudraprayag & Srinagar due to Alaknanda river's heavy flow.

<p>A Chinook successfully executed a landing at Malari and an ALH landed at Tapovan after carrying out an aerial recce of Tapovan and the glacier today: Indian Air Force</p>

An aerial view of Tapovan barrage two days after a glacier broke off in Joshimath causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Not much progress in rescue operation. We've recovered 32 bodies, 8 identified, 24 unknown. The rescue team also recovered 2 Uttarakhand Police personnel bodies. Can't confirm exact number for missing & dead people but it's between 192 & 204: Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar

(ANI)

A total of 57 people from Nighasan were there (Chamoli, Uttarakhand). We've received info that 34 people are missing after the incident. Remaining are safe & are in touch. We received body of one victim yesterday: Dharmendra Pandey, Tehsildar Nighasan

(ANI)

Rescue operations continue at Tapovan Tunnel, following the Sunday's glacier burst in Joshimath causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Wednesday, February 10, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Rescue operations underway by relief teams in Chamoli’s Joshimath

We've not able to connect with 12-13 villages after the bridge was washed away. So we are making necessary arrangements like ration, water, electricity for them. Soon we will also set-up a temporary bridge: Piyoosh Rautela, Disaster Mitigation & Management Centre Uttarakhand

(ANI)

Uttarakhand glacier disaster: Time running out for workers trapped in Tapovan tunnel

Time was running out to save dozens of people trapped inside a tunnel three days after a devastating flash flood likely caused by a glacier burst in Uttarakhand, officials said Wednesday.

Read more

Rescue operation to locate 25-35 workers trapped inside Tapovan tunnel continues.

Rescue operations continue at Tapovan Tunnel, following the Sunday's glacier burst in Joshimath causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Credit: PTI Photo

Read more

The challenge we are facing is that debris & slush is coming out from the tunnel. Machines to continue to work inside the tunnel: Aparna Kumar, DIG Sector HQ, ITBP, Chamoli

Maxar's satellite image shows a closer view of NTPC's under-construction Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower plant project along the Dhauliganga River in the Uttarakhand region of India before glacial collapse and flash flood. Credit: Reuters Photo

A team ITBP, NDRF, SDRF & other agencies continue to conduct rescue operation inside Tapovan tunnel, Uttarakhand on the third day.

A meeting of all agencies including senior officials of ITBP, NDRF, Army & local administration called today to decide further course of action.

Gadambari Devi tells about how she survived and her sister-in-law was washed away by the Sunday's flash flood following the glacier burst while they were working in a field, at Raini village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

A joint team of ITBP, NDRF, SDRF & other agencies entered into the Tapovan tunnel this morning. The tunnel is still approachable up to about 120 meters; more slush and water coming from inside the tunnel making the way ahead difficult: ITBP

(ANI)

32 bodies recovered, 206 persons (including 25-35 people stuck inside Tapovan tunnel) missing in Uttarakhand glacier burst, according to State government

(ANI)

ITBP troops distribute ration in Pang village

The rescue operation at the 2.5 km long Tapovan tunnel in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand continued on Tuesday night; teams worked to remove slush and debris in the tunnel. Around 30 people are feared trapped in the tunnel.

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.

(PTI)

Rescue operations continue at Tapovan Tunnel, following the Sunday's glacier burst in Joshimath causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

13 villages lose road connectivity

Thirteen villages in the Himalayan ranges have lost road connectivity as five bridges, including one on the road outside the village and stretching to the China border were washed away during Sunday’s landslide triggered by a glacier burst.

Read more

Loud sounds and clouds of dust: Villagers recount horror of Uttarakhand flood disaster

“It is a miracle that I am alive. I was tossed aside by the impact of the landslide,” Godambari Devi, a resident of this remote village in Chamoli district.

Read more

Families await reunion with loved ones trapped in tunnel

They stand ashen-faced in small clusters near the devastating barrage of the NTPC's Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project, waiting for some news about their missing relatives.

Read more

Rescue operations underway following the Sunday's glacier burst in Joshimath causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river, near Raini village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Indian Army steps up rescue efforts in Uttarakhand, death toll mounts to 31

Army on Tuesday stepped up efforts to rescue 37 persons trapped in a tunnel of an NTPC hydel project here even as the death toll from the landslide triggered by a glacier burst rose to 31.

Read more

Good morning readers, welcome to DH's live coverage of the Uttarakhand floods.