Chamoli (SunstarTV Bureau): According to ITBP spokesperson Vivek Pandey report, at least 10 bodies have been recovered from the spot while other person information has yet to be ascertained. Nearly about 150 people went missing or feared dead.
The initial information claimed that ITBP had through a statement that “As 150 people are still missing, it is difficult to say that all are dead. They can be said ‘feared dead’ or ‘missing’. Missing persons cannot be declared dead till seven years.”
“The BRO Bridge on Joshimath highway was also completely washed away. There were six grazers with their livestock there and they were also swept away by the flash flood,” the ITBP said.
Notably, yesterday the tragedy took place after the water level in Dhauliganga River, one of the six sources of the Ganga River, suddenly surged on Sunday morning following an avalanche near the Rishi Ganga power project. The 85 km river meets the Alaknanda River at Vishnuprayag at the base of Joshimath Mountain.
The ITBP said that the flash flood occurred in Rishi Ganga at around 10.45 a.m. due to a glacier falling into it and exponentially increasing the volume of water.
Due to this, the Rishi Ganga hydro project was completely devastated, it said.
