Hopes for life to thrive amid debris, mission to evacuate people from Tapovan tunnel

Chamoli, Ta. Monday, February 8, 2021

Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has once again been hit by a disaster since 2013 and the glacier has caused heavy damage at Chamoli. The floods have caused a lot of tension and damaged everything from plants to bridges and buildings. As many as 14 bodies have been recovered from the crash site so far while more than 100 people are believed to be missing. From the local administration, the army has also joined the rescue operation and the state-central government is working together.

A rescue operation has been launched near Tapovan tunnel since Monday morning. Toting machines are being used to move debris and stones. Army engineers have also joined the operation and so far 14 bodies have been recovered from various places, according to Chamoli police. ITBP personnel are engaged in rescue operations but people are finding it difficult to evacuate due to heavy debris and water in the tunnel. The pictures that are coming in front of Chamoli are reminiscent of the grim picture of 2013. However, this time the administration has shown immediate activism and several agencies including Army, Air Force, Navy, NDRF have joined the rescue operation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken to the Chief Minister several times and assured him of providing all possible help.

Following the tragedy at Chamoli, the focus from the state governments to the central government is now on rescue operations. According to a recent report, 14 bodies have been recovered from the crash site and search is on for more than 100 people who were stranded while working at the plant. Sixteen people trapped in a tunnel have been successfully evacuated and a total of 25 people have been rescued so far.

Announcement of assistance by Central and State Governments

The tragedy caused severe damage to two power projects in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given Rs 2 lakh to the families of the victims and Rs 2 lakh to the seriously injured. 50-50 thousand and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat with compensation of Rs. Announced compensation of Rs 6 lakh.

Sudden floods in the Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers wreaked havoc in the highlands and severely damaged two power projects under construction, the Tapovan-Vishnugadh Hydel Project and the Rishi Ganga Hydel Project. Sixteen people trapped in a tunnel of the Tapovan project have been rescued after the tragedy.

Many villages were cut off due to the tragedy. Many houses around the valley area were damaged due to the floods. The water level of Dhauli Ganga river, which was flooded due to avalanche in Joshimath, broke all records till date. The water level in Dhauli Ganga river was 1,388 meters on Sunday morning due to floods in Joshimath. Which is the highest water level ever. Earlier, during the floods in Uttarakhand in 2013, the water level in the Dhauli river had reached 1,385.54 meters. However, in the evening hours after the accident, the water level dropped to 1375 meters.

With the flood waters in Alaknanda and tributaries, swamps and debris infiltrated the NTPC power project between Raini village and Tapovan and destroyed the power project.

Teams from ITBP and SDRF as well as NDRF carried out relief work after the tragedy. The Home Ministry also sent a team of 200 NDRF personnel from Delhi to Dehradun. ITBP and SDRF personnel rescued 16 laborers trapped in the tunnel of the power project.

However, there are fears that these people may have died as relief work has become difficult in remote areas. The Air Force has also deployed two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft for relief work here. Alerts were issued in several districts, including Pauri, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Haridwar and Dehradun.

The system breathed a sigh of relief as the flow of Alaknanda and its tributaries calmed down after hours of torment. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that the flow of Alaknanda river has decreased in the evening. The flow of the river beyond Nandprayag has become normal.

The meteorological department also said that no rain is expected in the area in the next two days after the tragedy and the weather may remain normal. Many people witnessed the horrific form of the tragedy at a high altitude in the mountainous area and its videos went viral on social media.

Eyewitnesses shouted and warned those working on the power project in the low-lying area, but their voices were drowned out by the sound of floodwaters. Some people captured the incident on camera.

Center responsible for glacier accident: Uma Bharti

Former BJP Union Minister Uma Bharti has blamed the Center for the glacier tragedy in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Uma Bharti said that when she was a minister, her ministry had warned about the construction of power projects on rivers in the Himalayas.