Uttarakhand: Glacier Burst At Sumna Village; 384 Rescued, 8 Dead; Water Level Of Rishi Ganga Rises

A glacier break was reported near the India-China border in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday night. BRO has rescued 384 people from the avalanche spot and 8 bodies have been recovered till now.

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Uttarakhand witnessed another glacier burst near the India-China border near the Chamoli district on Friday night. The state government has issued a high alert and Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said he was in constant touch with the district administration and Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

“The breaking of a glacier has been reported in Sumna, Niti Valley. I have issued an alert in this regard. I am in constant touch with the district administration and BRO,” Rawat tweeted.

The Chief Minister added that Home Minister Amit Shah has taken immediate cognizance of the matter and assured help and instructed ITBP to be vigilant.

A BRO official confirmed the sliding down of a glacier in the area, where labourers are engaged in road construction work.

A BRO team was rushed to the spot but there is no clue yet on the damage caused, he said.

BRO also informed that the glacier burst took place because of heavy snowfall in the area.

"384 persons have been rescued so far. 6 of them are critical and currently under medical treatment. 8 bodies have been recovered. Rescue operation in progress", Indian Army

Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar said, "We are trying to gather information whether any loss of life has occurred in the glacier burst. Due to bad weather in the region, we are unable to know the exact situation. Teams have been sent to take stock of the situation. The ITBP personnel deployed in the area are safe", as quoted by PTI.

The burst took place in Sumna which is around 40 km ahead of Raini village — towards the China border — in the Tapovan area of Joshimath tehsil of Chamoli district.

Earlier, on February 7th, a glacier burst occurred upstream of Rishi Ganga, near Raini village in the same Niti Valley which lead to flash floods in the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga rivers taking the lives of 80 people and while 124 are still missing.