On Sunday February 7, in northern India, a Himalayan glacier broke off and slipped into the Dhauliganga River, causing the waters to rise rapidly. The flood swept away everything in its path in this narrow valley, including a dam, bridges and roads, according to images taken by terrified residents. The first report shows at least three dead and at least 150 people are missing. “And there are 16 or 17 people stuck in a tunnel,” a spokesman for the state police of Uttarakhand told Agence France-Presse.
Most of the 150 missing are employees of the Tapovan power station, near a dam that was ruptured by the flood. Rescue teams were trying to evacuate dozens of villages in the region as a matter of urgency and to reach the tunnel where people were trapped. Uttarakhand is an Indian state located in the Himalayan massif and where the Ganges takes its source.
Two dams emptied as a precaution
Most of the villages being evacuated are located on hills overlooking the river, which is a tributary of the Ganges. Authorities emptied two dams as a precaution to prevent raging waters from swelling the Ganges in the towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar, and prohibited residents of both towns from approaching the shores of the holy river. “India stands by the people of Uttarakhand and the nation prays for the safety of all in this region,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
