Uttarakhand glacier burst: A 13.2 MW small hydro project on the Rishiganga river was completely washed off due to the glacier burst in Uttarakhand on Sunday. The administration has, however, ruled out the threat of floods on the downstream, or to the nearby villages.
Tapovan dam, another project, was also washed off in the glacier burst that has resulted in the death of eight persons so far.
An official spokesman said “The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), was also informed that people trapped in a hydropower project tunnel were rescued by the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), while efforts are on to rescue those trapped in another tunnel. The operation is being coordinated by the Army and the ITBP,”.
The Indian Air Force’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) gave an initial report after carrying out a recce of the area. The report stated that the Tapovan dam was washed off due to the floods. “The dam is called Tapovan Hydro-Electric Power Dam.
It is on the confluence of Dhauli Ganga and Rishi Ganga. As per the recce and the initial report submitted, Tapovan dam also called Rishi Ganga Project has been completely washed off,”.
ITBP, IAF, NDRF continue rescue work
More than 200 ITBP personnel and an Engineering Task Force (ETF) of the Army has been deployed in the area for rescue operations. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in the area, even as three others have been flown from Hindon.
“There is no danger of downstream flooding, and the rise in water level has been contained, as per the information given by the Central Water Commission (CWC),” the spokesperson said, adding that there is no threat to the neighboring villages.
A part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Joshimath, in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Sunday, causing floods on the Dhauli Ganga river.
The Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that 125 people were believed to be trapped and missing in the calamity. 180 sheep and goats have also been swept off in the flash floods following the glacier outburst, while speaking to the Press.
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