Rescue operations at the Tapovan tunnel was halted for a short period in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand immediately after an alarming rise was noticed in the water levels of Rishiganga and Alakananda rivers. Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar stated that an order has been issued to get the region vacated as a precautionary measure. People living in nearby locations had been alerted by the police. Chamoli police have requested people today not to panic and stay alert.
The operation resumed at a tunnel in Joshimath teams involved in rescue had been shifted to safer areas. The rescue operation has resumed with a restricted group.
#WATCH Uttarakhand: JCB machines, gear and rescue teams exit the tunnel in Joshimath, Chamoli district exactly where rescue operation is underway, as the operation has been temporarily halted due to a rise in the level of water in Rishiganga river. pic.twitter.com/u8JhPqCyFB
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021
The rescue workers are also attempting to attain the villages which got disconnected due to the disaster. ITBP troops deployed in the rescue and relief operations have constructed a Jhula bridge across disconnected villages in Chamoli district. The bridge will be used to transport ration to the impacted locations.
Earlier today, a drilling operation was began by the NTPC group at 2 am to peep into the slush-flushing tunnel that is about 12-13 metres under, Vivek Kumar Pandey, spokesperson for the lead rescue agency, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), stated.
Rescue teams have began drilling operation to peep into the tunnel. We are presently at 6.5 meters: Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar pic.twitter.com/sGn7Y2Wtzz
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021
“Drilling through the debris started from around 68 metres inside the tunnel, Garhwal Commissioner Ravinath Raman, who is supervising the massive rescue effort at the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) project site,” he told PTI.
Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya also visited the tunnel rescue internet site today to take stock of the ongoing operation.
An estimated 30-35 people today are believed to be trapped inside the tunnel considering the fact that a flash flood battered numerous villages and hydro-energy projects in Chamoli district. Death toll in the accident has risen to 35 whilst 204 persons are reported to be nevertheless missing. Workers at the 480-MW Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel energy project had been trapped quickly immediately after the swollen Alaknanda river came hurtling down immediately after a glacier burst and washed away anything. Over 500 personnel from the ITBP, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Army have been involved in the rescue and relief operations.