Uttarakhand glacial tragedy: Death toll crosses 68, 136 missing; search ops underway

Updated : February 22, 2021 08:02 PM IST

Out of the 68 bodies recovered, 39 have been identified.

The 13.2 MW Rishiganga hydel project was totally demolished in the avalanche

The death toll rose to 68 in the Uttarakhand glacial tragedy as more bodies were recovered from the NTPC's flood-ravaged Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project site on Monday, officials said. Out of the 68 bodies recovered, 39 have been identified.

The search operation for 136 missing people at the project site is continuing on a war footing for more than 13 days since it bore the brunt of an avalanche triggered by a glacial burst over the Rishiganga river in the Chamoli district. The 13.2 MW Rishiganga hydel project was totally demolished in the avalanche while the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydropower project suffered extensive damage.

Also, Chamoli District Magistrate Swati S Bhadauria had on Saturday asked the NTPC to press into service additional equipment and divert the course of Dhauliganga river to the other side so that its water does not flow through the barrage into Tapovan tunnel hampering sludge clearing efforts.

River water flowing into the tunnel from the barrage has been a major headache for rescuers at the tunnel making the muck clearing operations even more challenging, Bhadauria had said. Deploying additional equipment at the tunnel and diverting the course of the river will speed up the debris removal exercise which has been underway for more than 13 days, the DM had said.

She had said rescue operations at the main project site in Raini have been completed. The DM had added that the debris on the upper side of Rishiganga is now being scoured for any bodies that could be trapped, if any.

With inputs from PTI

Uttarakhand glacial tragedy: Death toll crosses 68, 136 missing; search ops underway

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