Nature brought its anger on us when a glacier burst in Uttarakhand. At the time of writing, from the first tunnel 32 and from the second tunnel 121 people are still missing. Rescue operations are underway with the efforts of multiple agencies. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are working to search and rescue each one of the individuals trapped in this natural disaster.
Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand confirms that saving lives is the first priority. Losing a family member to death can never be recouped, but still, the Chief Minister has announced Rs 4 lakh as financial assistance for the families who have lost their family member.
A block of glacier from Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Tapovan area of Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This led to damage in Rishiganga power project.
Apprise yourself of the timeline of the disaster below:
2:07 pm, 8 February 2021:
Rescue work, which began before 7 am with the cooperation of multiple agencies is on.
Further, to transport the rescued individuals, the military has pressed its aircrafts, including MI 17, into service.
From Dehradun to Joshimath, transportation as and when required has been completed of 122 personnel, 5 tonnes of load, 6 rescue dogs.
Also, six scientists have visited the site for initial observations to learn about the disaster.
1:29 pm, 8 February 2021:
The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand assures everyone that we are expected to reach the people stuck in the tunnel by the evening of this day.
32 individuals will be saved if this deadline of clearing the entire debris stretch is achieved.
The Chief Minster praised the collective efforts of the ITBP, NDRF, and all the other agencies involved in the rescue efforts.
1:25 pm, 8 February 2021:
Debris is now cleared from 90 metres of stretch, and 100 metres are left.
The same is being worked on to rescue 32 people who are stuck in the big tunnel at Tapovan.
12:43 pm, 8 February 2021:
The search and rescue operation continues on. Today’s aim is to save 32 people trapped in the big tunnel at Tapovan.
12:11 pm, 8 February 2021:
19 bodies have been recovered so far from the efforts of the debris being removed from the big tunnel in Tapovan.
11:54 am, 8 February 2021:
Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand visited the site at the Chamoli district to assess the efforts to rescue every person trapped in this nature’s wrath.
He also talked to media persons on the site and assured that no stone is being left unturned, whether in men or in machines, to get the people trapped rescued as soon as humanly possible.
11:38 am, 8 February 2021:
The central government is keeping itself fully cognizant of the rescue operations with the Home Minister Amit Shah reviewing the situation every half-an-hour.
11:30 am, 8 February 2021:
The rescue work continues on. Till now, 19 bodies have been recovered - 4 individuals from Rudraprayag and 15 are from Chamoli.
9:55 am, 8 February 2021:
Ashok Kumar, DGP of Uttrakhand confirmed that 10 bodies have been recovered. 3 people are rescued from Tapovan and the other 7 from the route to Karnprayag.
From the smaller tunnel, 12 individuals were rescued yesterday and the efforts are already underway to clear the big tunnel to rescue any people trapped in there.
As of now, 32 people from the first tunnel and 121 from the second tunnel are still missing.
The DGP requested all to not panic, the authorities are undertaking rescue efforts which are in full swing.
9:18 am, 8 February 2021:
Efforts are underway to rescue the people trapped. Vivek Pandey, ITBP Spokesperson informed that about 300 ITBP Jawans are deployed to clear the tunnel and more teams are on stand-by if need arises.
7:48 am, 8 February 2021:
Antonio Guterres, Secretary, United Nations shared his grief on the loss of lives due to the natural calamity, and offered any assistance required in the rescue efforts.
7:40 am, 8 February 2021:
Rescue operations have resumed. The same had to be halted because the water levels had risen suddenly in Dhauli Ganga around 8 pm yesterday.
One more body has been recovered since the resumption of the work.
7:26 am, 8 February 2021:
8 bodies have been recovered till now, and over 120 stand missing.
7:19 am, 8 February 2021:
16 labourers rescued and 7 bodies recovered, and 125 are still missing.
6:03 am, 8 February 2021:
Scientists leave for the site to ascertain the cause of the disaster. Everyone is concerned that this not be a repeat of the 2013 disaster in the state. The causes could be either of a glacial lake burst, a cloud burst or an avalanche, or the impact of climate change.
6:03 am, 8 February 2021:
Scientists leave for the site to ascertain the cause of the disaster. Everyone is concerned that this not be a repeat of the 2013 disaster in the state. The causes could be either of a glacial lake burst, a cloud burst or an avalanche, or the impact of climate change.
1:39 am, 8 February 2021:
The neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh has put its District Magistrates (DM) and the police in-charges on the banks of Ganga to keep strict vigil.
If any need arises, the people living on the banks are to be evacuated.
Agencies NDRF, SDRF, and the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) flood company have been instructed to stay on high alert.
11:27 pm, 7 February 2021:
Our neighbouring state, Pakistan, shares its grief on the loss of lives due to natural calamity and also expressed its hope of early rescue of all the trapped people.
11:15 pm, 7 February 2021:
Water level has started rising again, and thus the people near the river bank in Chamoli are being alerted.
22:22 pm, 7 February 2021:
The rescue work had to halted due to the rising water level.
150 metres of the tunnel was dug when the rescue operations had to be halted.
Uttarakahnd DGP Ashok Kumar informed that a clear picture is expected on the identities of the people by tomorrow morning.
10:45 am, 7 February 2021:
Flash flood occurred in Rishiganga river due to falling of glacier in the river. This increased the volume water exponentially .
Consequently, Rishiganga hydro project near Raini village was destroyed. Further, the BRO (Border Roads Organisation) on Joshimath-Malaria was also washed away.
Moreover, six graziers with their livestock and they all too have been washed away. 56 houses of the village were lost.
NTPC’s project on river Dhauli Ganga neat Tapovan has been destroyed.
Two Jhulla bridges connecting villages on the other side of the river was also washed away.