As many as 150 people are feared dead after a Himalayan glacier crashes into a dam in India early on Sunday. The floods waters caused gushing water and debris to hit two hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand, forcing the evacuation of villages downstream.
The following written content from Manpreet Kaur Sachdeva
A portion of Nanda Devi glacier broke off in the Tapovan area of Uttarakhand state on Sunday, with the subsequent flooding damaging the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga hydropower projects, officials said.
At least 150 people working at the two power plants are now missing and feared dead, a state official said.
Local police said eight bodies had already been recovered.
Eyewitness Sanjay Singh Rana, who lives on the upper reaches of the river, told Reuters news agency: “It came very fast, there was no time to alert anyone. I felt that even we would be swept away.”Advertisement
Officials said the breaking glacier released water trapped behind it as well as sending mud and other debris surging down the mountain and into other bodies of water.
Some houses were also damaged in the flooding and an evacuation of homes on the banks of the Alaknanda river was issued immediately.
Several teams of rescuers were rushed to the affected area, officials said.
“India stands with Uttarakhand and the nation prays for everyone’s safety there”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on
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