The location of Sumna in Uttarakhand, where the glacier burst was reported. Photo: Google Maps
New Delhi: A glacier burst in an area close to the Niti valley near the Indo-China border in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday resulted in an avalanche, killing at least eight people.
According to reports, nearly 384 people who were working at a Border Roads Organisation camp were rescued. Bad weather conditions had restricted the rescue operations on Friday night, but they are fully underway on Saturday.
On Friday, Border Roads Organisation officials confirmed that part of a glacier collapsed beyond Sumna Chawki near Malari in the Niti valley.
A BRO official confirmed to news agency PTI that a glacier slid down in the area, where labourers are engaged in road construction work.
In a statement, the Army said that at around 4 pm on April 23, “an avalanche hit a location about 4 km ahead of Sumna on Sumna- Rimkhim road in Uttarakhand,” which is on the “Joshimath-Malari-Girthidobla-Sumna-Rimkhim axis”.
“A BRO detachment and two labour camps exist nearby for road construction work along this axis. An Army camp is located 3 km from Sumna (approximately 1 km short of BRO Sumna Det).”
The area has been experiencing heavy rains and snow for the past five days, the statement says.
“Rescue operations were launched by the Indian Army immediately. As many as 384 labourers have been safely rescued and are now at the Army camp. Rescue operations to locate other labourers at both camps are continuing. Eight bodies have been recovered so far.”
The statement says that road access has been cut off at four-five locations due to multiple landslides.
Chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat tweeted about the incident, saying an alert has been issued and he is in constant touch with the BRO and the district administration for updates.
In another tweet, Rawat said Union home minister Amit Shah has taken immediate cognizance of the incident and assured the state of all help.
Jal shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he is monitoring the situation closely.
“Unfortunate that a disaster has struck Reni Village of Uttarakhand owing to a glacier burst on Dhauliganga river.
“I am monitoring the situation closely. CWC is on alert and a team led by a secretary level officer has taken charge of the situation,” he wrote on Twitter.
In February, a glacier burst killed nearly 80 people in Chamoli while many went missing.
(With PTI inputs)