Chamoli Glacial Burst: 15 rescued, over a hundred still missing

First Published Feb 8, 2021, 9:19 AM IST

A day after the glacier burst caused widespread destruction in the mountainous Reni village in Uttarakhand's Tapovan district, at least 15 people have been rescued while 14 bodies have been recovered so far.

According to local administration officials, around 170 people are missing since the glacier burst.Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel are conducting relief and rescue operations at the site of the National Thermal Power Corporation's Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project and the Rishi Ganga Hydel Project which was destroyed along with a Border Roads Organisation bridge at the Joshimath highway.
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At least four hydropower projects in the area have been damaged in the glacier burst.Around 300 personnel have been deployed to clear tunnel number 2 in which around 30 people are feared trapped.Twelve people were rescued from another tunnel on Sunday.
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Meanwhile, armed forces units have been pressed into relief and rescue operations at Ringi village near Joshimath.Two Army columns from Joshimath and two columns from Auli have been deployed while two more are on standby. The engineering task force is on-site with JCB earthmovers assisted by a medical column with two ambulances.The Army has also deployed to 2 Cheetah helicopters.
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Meanwhile, an IAF C130 transport aircraft airlifted 60 National Disaster Relief Force personnel and cargo weighing 5 tons from Hindon to JollyGrant airport.Three Mi-17s were positioned at Joshimath to rush the NDRF teams to Joshimath.
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Another C130 and AN 32 have been kept on standby at Hindon.A team of 16 Marine Commandos at New Delhi and another 40 at Mumbai are also ready for deployment.
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