Uttarakhand glacier disaster: Eighteen dead after India glacier bursts dam
At least 18
people are dead and 200 missing after a piece of a Himalayan glacier fell into
a river and triggered a huge flood in northern India.
The
floodwaters burst open a dam and a deluge of water poured through a valley in
the state of Uttarakhand View
more info….
Most of the
missing are believed to be workers from two hydro power plants in the area.
Hundreds of
troops, paramilitaries and military helicopters have been sent to the region to
help with rescue efforts.
Experts are
investigating the incident though it is not yet clear what might have caused
the glacial burst.
In a tweet
on Sunday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was keeping a close
watch on the situation in Uttarakhand View
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"Have
been continuously speaking to authorities and getting updates on... deployment,
rescue work and relief operations," he said in a tweet.
"India
stands with Uttarakhand and the nation prays for everyone's safety there."
Leaders from
across the world have also sent their condolences to families of the victims.
"My
thoughts are with the people of India and rescue workers in Uttarakhand as they
respond to devastating flooding from the glacier collapse," said UK Prime
Minister Boris Johnson in a tweet View
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"The UK
stands in solidarity with India and is ready to offer any support needed."
Destruction
in its wake
Uttarakhand
police said an avalanche struck at about 11:00 local time (05:30 GMT) on
Sunday, destroying a dam known as the Rishiganga Hydroelectric Project View
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Police said
the impact catapulted water along the Dhauliganga river, damaging another power
project downstream in the Tapovan area. Senior police officials told media that
a bridge in the Tapovan area that connected 13 villages was washed away in the
avalanche. Food packets were air dropped in some of these villages, officials
said.
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