Nine dead and dozens missing after broken glacier floods Indian power plants

world
Nine Dead And Dozens Missing After Broken Glacier Floods Indian Power Plants
India Glacier Flooding, © AP/Press Association Images
Share this article

By Associated Press Reporters

Indian authorities have launched a search operation after part of a mountain glacier broke, sending a massive flood of water and debris slamming into two dams and damaging a number of homes.

At least nine people were killed and 140 others were missing.

Advertisement

A portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in the Tapovan area of the northern state of Uttarakhand on Sunday morning, damaging the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga hydropower projects.

The Rishiganga hydropower plant was destroyed, while the Dhauliganga hydropower plant was damaged, said Vivek Pandey, a spokesman for the paramilitary Indo Tibetan Border Police.


India Glacier Flooding
Indo Tibetan Border Police join the rescue effort (Indo Tibetan Border Police/AP)

Advertisement

Both are on the Alaknanda River, which flows from the Himalayan mountains to the Ganges River.

Mr Pandey said at least 16 workers were trapped near a tunnel at the Dhauliganga project. Another 140 workers at the two plants were missing, he added.

Surjeet Singh, a police official, said nine bodies were recovered so far amid intensified rescue operations.

Government spokesman Ravi Bejaria said some houses were also damaged in the flooding.

Advertisement

Officials said when the glacier broke it sent water trapped behind it as well as mud and other debris surging down the mountain and into other bodies of water.


India glacier flooding
Police personnel begin rescue work after a portion of a glacier broke off, sending a massive flood of water, mud and debris into areas below (Indo Tibetan Border Police/AP)

An advisory was issued urging people living on the banks of the Alaknanda River to move to safer places immediately.

Advertisement

Authorities emptied two dams further down the river to stop the flood waters from reaching the towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh, where popular tourist spots on the banks of the Ganges River were shut and all boating activities were stopped.

The Himalayan area has a chain of power projects on the Alaknanda River and its tributaries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet he was “constantly monitoring the unfortunate situation”. He added: “India stands with Uttarakhand and the nation prays for everyone’s safety there.”

In 2013, thousands of people were killed in Uttarakhand after heavy rains triggered landslides and floods, washing away thousands of houses and roads and cutting communication links in many parts of the state.

Advertisement

Read More

Message submitting... Thank you for waiting.

Want us to email you top stories each lunch time?

Download our Apps
© BreakingNews.ie 2024, developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com