On January 7, a “partial breakup” of a Himalayan glacier led to high river levels in northern India. Many parts of India are on high alert. (File photo)
A “part of the Himalayan glacier breakup” has led to high river levels and flooding in northern India. According to reports, more than 100 people have been killed by the flooding of the river.
According to Reuters, Prakash, chief secretary of the state of North Akhand where the incident occurred, said: “The actual number has not been confirmed, but we fear that 100 to 150 people have died. “
An eyewitness said the glacier gushed down the river valley after breaking up and he saw a wall of dust, rocks and water. “It came so quickly that there was no Time to warn anyone,” said Lana, who lives upstream from the village of Leni, when interviewed. “I thought even we would be swept away by the water.”
Rana said locals were worried that people working on a nearby hydroelectric project, as well as some villagers roaming the river, looking for firewood or grazing livestock, would be swept away. “We don’t know how many people are missing,” he said.
India put many local areas on high alert Sunday (Feb. 7), calling for evacuations. “The Rishiganga Power Project has been damaged …… causing the water level of the river to continue to rise,” the local police department in the Indian state of North Akhand tweeted. “We appeal to people along the Alaknanda River to leave the area at the earliest.”
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