Uttarakhand disaster LIVE: Death toll 32; search, rescue operation underway

Uttarakhand flood latest news: 31 bodies have been recovered from different areas that were affected by the glacier burst in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand

2:49 AM

Uttarakhand flash floods due to hanging glacier collapse: Initial study

The flash floods in Uttarakhand two days ago was due to the collapse of a hanging glacier, initial observations by scientists at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology suggests.
 

A hanging glacier is a body of ice that breaks off abruptly at the edge of a precipice or steep slope.
 

"The event happened in a hanging glacier, adjacent to Raunthi glacier, which originates from Raunthi/Mrigudhani peak (6,063 metres above sea level)," Kalachand Sain, director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, said.
 

The observations also suggest that rock mass weakened over a period of time due to freezing and thawing of snow must have led to the creation of a "weak zone", triggering its collapse, which resulted in the formation of a temporary dam that eventually breached, causing the deadly floods.
 

Two teams of five glaciologists are studying the reasons behind Sunday's disaster. They also undertook a helicopter survey on Tuesday.
 

The glaciers around the area feed the Rishiganga river, which meets the Dhualiganga river.
 

The death toll in the Uttarakhand disaster rose to 32 with six more bodies being recovered, officials said Tuesday, as multiple agencies raced against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel at a power project site and 174 people remained missing.
 

About 600 rescue workers are involved in the operation, two days after the sudden flood in the Alaknanda river system in Chamoli district that was possibly triggered by an avalanche or glacier burst. PTI
 

2:48 AM

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.
 

While three of them belong to Chikad village, one hailed from Sangrampur.
 

Local villager Rupa Devi has, however, claimed that six pesons from the area are missing since the calamity.
 

Meanwhile, Rinse Devi of Chikad village told PTI that her husband Birse Mahato along with three other labourers had gone to Chamoli to work in NTPC's Tapovan project on January 6 this year. She said that she had a coversation over phone with Mahato on Saturday night. There was no conversation on Sunday as her phone developed glitches.
 

Relatives of labourers who are missing have left for Uttarakhand on Tuesday, officials said.
 

Soren had on Monday assured the people that the Jharkhand government will provide all help to the labourers hit by the natural disaster at Chamoli. PTI
 

11:36 PM

Uttarakhand disaster: ITBP personnel provide ration items to Pang village

11:21 PM

Uttarakhand disaster: Toll rises to 32, race against time in tunnel rescue op

The death toll in the Uttarakhand disaster rose to 32 with six more bodies being recovered, officials said Tuesday as multiple agencies raced against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel at a power project site and 174 people remained missing, according to PTI. About 600 rescue workers are involved in the operation, two days after the sudden flood in the Alaknanda river system in Chamoli district that was possibly triggered by an avalanche or glacier burst.

In Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Centre is working in close coordination with the Uttarakhand government. "Rescue operation to evacuate these people is going on a war-footing and all-out efforts are being made for searching missing persons, he said, as per PTI. The State Emergency Operation Centre said six bodies were found Tuesday, taking the death toll to 32, and 174 people are still missing.

9:46 PM

Uttarakhand disaster LIVE: Have prepared report, sent it to MHA, says Defence Geo Informatics

A complete ice sheet hanging on the mountain fell down along with it lot of landmass came on the river valley & moved towards downstream. We have prepared an initial report on what has happened in the area and have sent it to the headquarters & MHA. There are a number of glaciers in that area & the glacier that had burst was a hanging glacier: Lokesh Kumar Sinha, Director, Defence Geo Informatics Research Establishment.

8:55 PM

A joint team of ITBP, Army, SDRF and NDRF in Tapovan tunnel in Chamoli for rescue

8:50 PM

Uttarakhand glacial burst: 31 bodies found so far, 197 missing, search operations continue

As many as 32 bodies have been recovered so far from different areas hit by the glacier burst in Chamoli district, while 197 people are still missing, Uttarakhand Police said.

 

"197 people are missing. 32 bodies recovered so far from various locations, 8 of these identified," police said.

 

The police also issued a helpline number to provide information about bodies that have not been identified yet, ANI reported.

 

"People, who know someone who is missing, can contact DIG Law and Order on +91 7500016666, they will be sent photos of 24 bodies that are yet to be identified, on WhatsApp," police said.

 

A joint team of ITBP, NDRF, SDRF and other agencies conducting rescue operations used drone cameras to see feasibility to enter beyond cleared site inside Tapovan tunnel. They haven't been successful so far. Machines deployed to clear slush, said ITBP.

8:20 PM

Uttarakhand disaster LIVE: Cleared up 60 m inside tunnel

8:02 PM

Death toll climbs to 31 in Uttarakhand disaster, CM meets affected villagers

The death toll from the Uttarakhand disaster rose to 31 with the recovery of five bodies on Tuesday, the State Emergency Operation Centre said, even as the operation to rescue around 30 workers feared trapped inside a tunnel at the Tapovan power project in Chamoli district continued.

 

The State Emergency Operation Centre said 175 people are still missing after the Sunday's disaster, apparently caused by a glacier burst.

 

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) earlier said its personnel recovered two bodies from debris in Raini village on Tuesday morning. READ ON...

7:50 PM

BJP's Baluni meets power minister to discuss rehabilitation in Uttarakhand

BJP MP Anil Baluni met Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh on Tuesday to discuss the damage caused by the flash floods in Uttarakhand following a possible glacier burst, and how the ministry can further help the affected people, according to PTI. Baluni, a Rajya Sabha member from Uttarakhand, said they discussed the ways in which the people in the region can be helped and how the area can be rebuilt.

 

They also discussed the damaged caused at the NTPC plant by the floods.

 

A portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, triggering an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations and endangered lives of people living along the banks. As many as 20 people have died while 197 are missing in Sunday's avalanche and flashfloods, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

7:18 PM

Search and rescue operation underway at Tapovan tunnel in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand

7:09 PM

12 persons rescued in Uttarakhand by ITBP discharged from hospital

Twelve people, who were rescued by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on February 7 after glacier burst incident in Uttarakhand, got discharged on Tuesday from 1st Battalion ITBP Joshimath hospital.

 

"A mother of a rescued becomes emotional explaining her feelings about life-saving rescue by ITBP men from a tunnel on February 7. All 12 rescued have now been discharged from the 1st Battalion ITBP hospital, Joshimath," ITBP said in a tweet.

 

ITBP also posted a video along with the tweet.

 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat also visited 1st Battalion ITBP Joshimath Hospital today to meet the people rescued on February 7 from a tunnel near Tapovan in Chamoli district of the state.

6:34 PM

93 NTPC workers missing in Uttarakhand glacier burst incident

Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh on Tuesday said that 93 workers of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited are missing, while 39 are still stuck in the Tapovan tunnel in the Uttarakhand glacier burst incident.

 

"93 NTPC workers are missing, 39 still stuck in the tunnel, we are trying to reach them. We are planning to install Early Warning System as a precautionary measure against avalanches," Singh told ANI. "Financial aid of Rs 20 lakhs will be given to the deceased's family," he added.

 

The rescue operation is underway at Tapovan tunnel in Joshimath, Chamoli. Earlier today, a joint team of ITBP, Army, NDRF, and SDRF entered the Tapovan tunnel to check the water level inside the tunnel ahead of the point where the debris has been cleared.

6:05 PM

Uttarakhand glacial burst: A joint team of ITBP, NDRF, SDRF and other agencies conducting rescue operation

6:04 PM

Uttarakhand tragedy: Haryana CM gives Rs 11 crore from CM's Relief Fund

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday gave Rs 11 crore as financial aid from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Fund in the wake of the glacier tragedy in the hill state, PTI reported. In this hour of tragedy and crisis, the Haryana government stands with Uttarakhand, and every possible help will be given to the state to deal with the disaster, Khattar said in an official statement said here.

 

A glacier burst at Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday triggered an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations. The death toll has climbed to 31 as multiple agencies race against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel in a power project site and 175 people are missing.