Uttarakhand tragedy: Rescue Work hampered by slush, rise in river levels

New Delhi: Efforts to get an idea on survivors inside the Tapovan hydel tunnel in Uttarakhand using drone cameras on Thursday failed as slush and silt hampered work. Around 35 people are believed to be trapped inside the tunnel after a flash flood caused by fall of a cracked glacier in the Alaknanda battered villages and two hydel projects in Chamoli district. Workers at the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel power project were trapped after the swollen Alaknanda hurtled down with rock and sediments.

“Teams are trying to drill a hole for a camera. We are not ruling out any possibility; all options are open,” ITBP DG SS Deswal said. The boring operation was undertaken to gauge the best rescue option before teams go deep inside.

Rescue workers are also trying to reach villages been cut off by the disaster. ITBP troops deployed in the rescue and relief operations have constructed a suspension bridge across disconnected villages in Chamoli district. It will be used to transport ration to affected areas. “Things are absolutely normal for villages on the other side of the river. The foot bridge will help security forces to provide relief and rehabilitation,” Deswal said.


Rescue operations were halted briefly on Thursday after Rishiganga and Alakananda river levels rose alarmingly. Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar said that an order has been issued to ask people to evacuate the area as a precautionary measure. Chamoli police have requested people not to panic but remain alert. Teams were shifted to safer locations but later a smaller team resumed work. Over 500 personnel from ITBP, the National Disaster Response Force, the State Disaster Response Force and Army are involved in the operations.