Chamoli Flash Floods: 100-150 Reported Missing; HM Amit Shah To Visit Uttarakhand Today

Around 100-150 people are suspected to have lost their lives in the flash floods in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Sunday, ANI reports whilst citing the state’s chief secretary Om Prakash. Moreover, hundreds of labourers working on a power project in the area are also missing due to this calamity.

Apparently, the flood was set off in the Dhauliganga river in the district due to the breaking down of a glacier. Now, an alert has been issued in the Rudraprayag, Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri and Haridwar districts as massive damage along with an endangerment of scores of people living along the banks of the river is feared.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel were deployed to a site near the Raini village in order to kickstart the rescue operations. Reportedly, a few water bodies have flooded and this has resultantly destroyed several houses on the sides of the riverbank.

Vivek Pandey, spokesperson of the ITBP, told ANI, “Over 200 jawans are on the job and working in collaboration with local administration. One team is on the spot to assess the situation. Another team is deployed near Joshimath to raise awareness and evacuate people. The situation is under control.”

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister is set to visit Uttarakhand today in the wake of the glacier bust, Times Now reports. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has stationed four of its teams to conduct the rescue and relief operations in the region. Shah revealed that some more teams of the NDRF are being airlifted to the northern state from the national capital for this purpose.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Assam for a pre-scheduled event but he has spoken to Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat and is taking regular stock of the situation.

“Am constantly monitoring the unfortunate situation in Uttarakhand. India stands with Uttarakhand and the nation prays for everyone’s safety there. Have been continuously speaking to senior authorities and getting updates on NDRF deployment, rescue work and relief operations,” PM Modi wrote on Twitter. CM Rawat has appealed to put a stop over rumor mongering by circulating videos of older floods and calamities.

Note: Stranded and affected individuals can contact the Uttarakhand Disaster Operations Centre by calling 1070 or 9557444486.