A day after disaster struck at Reni near Joshimath in Chamoli district, the authorities have been able to recover 26 bodies while at least 197 people were reported missing till Monday evening. Of the bodies recovered, only two could be identified till the evening. According to the 8 PM status report of the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the 197 missing people include 12 people of Reni and three other villages along with 185 workers of the companies involved in the two hydro power projects damaged in the disaster. Further, between 25 and 35 persons –included in the missing persons’ list- are stuck in a tunnel with efforts underway to reach them clearing the debris in the tunnel. While six persons are injured, 12 persons were rescued safely from the NTPC project downstream. Personnel of the NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, SSB and armed forces along with state police are undertaking rescue and relief works at the affected sites.
Meanwhile, apart from chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Union Power minister RK Singh, Union Education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Garhwal MP Tirath Singh Rawat, State minister Dhan Singh Rawat visited the Tapovan and other affected areas where they viewed the efforts underway and interacted with the locals.Even as rescue operations continued throughout the day, ration, medical supplies and other daily use items were supplied by helicopter to the 13 villages in the Niti valley which have lost road link due to the disaster. The Chamoli district magistrate Swati Bhadauriya informed that supplies will be provided by helicopter in these villages till an alternate arrangement is made. In addition to the disaster affected area, the district administration team is also searching for the missing persons along the banks of the Alaknanda river.
Tuesday, 09 February 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
