February 08, 2021

Anna Murray 

On February 7, an avalanche of dust, rock and water flushed down the Dhauli Ganga river valley in the Himalayan Uttarakhand state located more than 500 km (310 miles) north of New Delhi. There are reportedly more than 150 missing and 14 confirmed death as burst glacier triggered flash floods and ruined 2 hydroelectric projects. India authorities have sent army and members from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deploying to rescue work and relief operations immediately.

At first, the avalanche completely crushed the Rishiganga Power project of a smaller hydroelectric dam on the river in Chamoli. Then, flash floods surged 5 kilometers downstream on the Dhauli Ganga river near Tapovan and damaged a much larger hydro under-construction project of 2 tunnels owned by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

Chamoli District Police reported rescue teams were working throughout the night to find survivors and recover bodies. According to press release from Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, 15 NTPC workers trapped in one tunnel of the Rishiganga hydropower project were rescued on February 8. Rescue efforts are under way to retrieve other workers trapped in another tunnel.

Photo:Webshot.