Uttarakhand: Avalanche hits Sumna area in Chamoli district; 8 killed, 384 persons rescued so far

According to reports, 384 persons have been rescued so far.

An avalanche hit the area close to the Sumna in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district yesterday. The affected areas are near the Indo-China border. Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat today conducted an aerial survey of the Sumna area of the Joshimath Sector in Chamoli district, where an avalanche occurred due to heavy snowfall.

The CM informed that Home Minister Amit Shah has called him last night. “NDRF and District Administration are on the job. ITBP and BRO were informed. The rescue was done quickly. I did an aerial survey today. BRO is carrying out the operation but the connectivity remains affected,” said CM Tirath Singh Rawat.

According to reports, 384 persons have been rescued so far. “6 of them are critical and currently under medical treatment. We have recovered 8 bodies so far. Rescue operation is in progress,” said Indian Army.

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officials said that information was received about a part of a glacier collapsing beyond Sumna Chawki near Malari.

उत्तराखंड की नीति घाटी में मलारी बॉर्डर स्थित सुमना गाँव के निकट ग्लेशियर टूटने का समाचार मिलने पर घटनास्थल का हवाई निरीक्षण किया। सुमना क्षेत्र में भारी बर्फबारी होने से रास्ते बंद हैं। संचार व्यवस्था स्थापित की जा रही है। pic.twitter.com/IRbkDYtA54

— Tirath Singh Rawat (@TIRATHSRAWAT) April 24, 2021

Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat tweeted saying an alert has been issued and he is in constant touch with the BRO and the district administration for updates.

नीती घाटी के सुमना में ग्लेशियर टूटने की सूचना मिली है। इस संबंध में मैंने एलर्ट जारी कर दिया है। मैं निरंतर जिला प्रशासन और बीआरओ के सम्पर्क में हूँ।

— Tirath Singh Rawat (@TIRATHSRAWAT) April 23, 2021

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he is monitoring the situation closely.

“Unfortunate that a disaster has struck Reni Village of Uttarakhand owing to a glacier burst on Dhauliganga river…I am monitoring the situation closely. CWC is on alert and a team led by a secretary-level officer has taken charge of the situation,” he wrote on Twitter.

In February, a glacier burst killed nearly 80 people in Chamoli while many went missing.