Thread by @AdityaRajKaul

#BREAKING: India’s National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba met today to review the situation arising out of the natural disaster in #Uttarakhand caused by glacial burst. Here are the details in the long thread below: 👇

Chief Secretary, Government of #Uttarakhand briefed the Committee through video conference on the ground situation as well as the actions taken by them after the incident to evacuate people and to contain the damage caused by the flooding due to the glacial burst.

Glacial burst led to the rising water levels in the river Rishiganga which washed away the Rishiganga small hydro project of 13.2 MW. The flash flood also affected the downstream hydro project of NTPC at Tapovan on the river Dhauliganga which is a tributary of river Alaknanda.

There is no danger of downstream flooding and the rise in water level has been contained, as per the information given by the Central Water Commission (CWC).  There is also no threat to the neighbouring villages.

At the same time, concerned agencies of the Centre and the State were asked to keep a strict vigil on the situation, and a team from DRDO who monitor avalanches is being flown in for surveillance and reconnaissance.  MD, NTPC has been asked to reach the affected site immediately.

Around 12 persons trapped in a tunnel have been rescued by the ITBP; while efforts are on to rescue others trapped in another tunnel, which is being co-ordinated by the Army/ITBP. All out efforts are being made to ensure that all missing people are traced and accounted for.

2 teams of NDRF are enroute and 3 additional teams have been flown in from Hindon which will reach the spot later in the night. More than 200 ITBP personnel are on the spot and one column and Engineering Task Force (ETF) of Army, with all rescue equipment have been deployed.

Navy divers are being flown in and aircrafts/ helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) are on standby. IMD has informed during the meeting that there is no rainfall warning in the region for the next two days. #Uttarakhand

Cabinet Secretary has directed the concerned agencies to work in close co-ordination and extend all requisite assistance to the State administration. He emphasized the need to account for all missing persons and ensure that those trapped in the tunnel are rescued at the earliest.

He directed that surveillance should be maintained till rescue efforts are completed & the situation returns to normalcy. Meeting was attended by Home Secretary, Secretary, Ministry of Power, DG, ITBP, Chief IDS, Members of NDMA, DG, NDRF, Chairman, CWC, DG, IMD & Chairman, DRDO.