NEW DELHI, Feb 8 (NNN-PTI) – Strenuous efforts are underway to rescue around 35 to 40 workers, reportedly stuck inside a tunnel, in India’s northern hilly state of Uttarakhand, which was hit by a glacier burst yesterday, confirmed an official at the local disaster management office.
The tunnel, located near the glacier burst site, is said to be filled with several feet high of slush and debris. Heavy machinery is being used to clear the tunnel and rescue the workers stuck inside.
Rescue operations continued throughout the night though at a slower pace due to darkness.
Nearly 150 people are said to be missing for over 20 hours now, in the affected areas. Most of these are said to be workers employed at the local hydro-power plants.
So far 10 dead bodies have been recovered, and 12 persons were safely rescued from inside one of the tunnels, a few hours after the natural tragedy struck the area.
The glacier burst severely damaged a couple of power projects in the state. Over 125 workers at these power plants are feared to have been washed away by flash floods.
State chief minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat, told the media last night that, at least five local residents, 180 sheep and goats, had gone missing. “We have an adequate number of helicopters to carry out relief and rescue work,” he said.– NNN-PTI
