News broke on Sunday of a disaser in the Indian Himalayas. Our new volunteer Ellen Tully, has been following the story. Using videos and photos from social media and news websites, she tells the story of what happened.
On the 7th of February 2021, 11:00 local time, disaster hit the Tapovan area of the northern state of Uttarakhand, India.
It was initially unclear what exactly had happened, with some assuming the cause was a glacial collapse and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)
Using satellite imagery, scientists were able to establish the cause was not a GLOF, but an avalanche of ice and rock on the Nanda Ghunti mountain.
The result was torrents of water and debris cascading down the Dhauliganga river, causing major damage to Rishiganga and Dhauliganga hydropower projects, nearby villages and five connecting bridges.
Powerless bystanders watched as raging flood waters destroyed Rishiganga hydropower plant and advanced down-river towards the Dhauliganga plant, washing away an estimated 150 workers, many of which remain missing.
In the wake of the disaster, The Press of India capture what is left of Rishiganga hydropower project (see image above). The derelict remains marking a loss to lives and livelihoods.
Two tunnels, that ordinarily served to divert water away from the plant, have been buried under debris. 12 men were trapped in one tunnel and an estimated 35 in the other.
A combined rescue effort by the Indo-Tibetten Boarder Police (ITBP), Army, State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is underway to free the men.
On Monday, an ITBP worker captured the moment rescuers hauled the first of 12 workers from one of the blocked tunnels.
Video plays on YouTube
Two survivors rescued from the tunnel tell NDTV reporters “we held on to the crown of the tunnel for an hour” whilst they waited for help. Another says, unsmiling, “we are safe now”.
A mother of one of the rescued workmen becomes emotional as she tells ITBP how she feels about her son’s rescue. This is followed by a brief moment of celebration between rescue workers and the family.
Whilst some celebrate, this man tells reporters that he has “not seen his son since he left for duty” work at the hydroplant the day of the disaster. With 190 people still missing, he is one of hundreds waiting to be reunited with loved ones.
Rescue teams are working 24 hours a day to clear the second tunnel in Tropovan, measuring 1.5 miles in length, thought to contain 35 trapped workers. Contact with the men is yet to be made.
Support is quickly being made available to those affected. Raini bridge, which served to connect nine villages, was swept away by the flood. The image above shows ITBP workers delivering ration packs to the stranded villages by helicopter.
One official captures the solemn atmosphere as ration bags are distributed to stranded villages by ITBP officials.
The Uttarakhand community continues to help those helping them. Local NGO’s, such as BJYM pictured above, have been on the ground since the disaster struck, supporting rescue teams as they clear debris in search of survivors.
As of 10th of February 2021, 32 people have been confirmed dead and at least 190 remain missing.
As COP26 approaches, this footage and these images are a stark reminder why countries who are being most heavily impacted by climate change are calling for stronger climate action and a focus on Disaster Risk Reduction, Compensation for Losses and Damage and Adaptation.
Although it wasn’t a GLOF that caused the Uttarakhand disaster, it is highly likely, as Dr. Dave Petley puts it: ‘that these events might be increasing in frequency as a result of climate change.’
Action and deeper commitments are needed at COP26. Please share this story so that the Uttarakhand disaster is not forgotten.
More information on Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
In recent decades the Himalayas, spanning Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bhutan and China, have suffered substantial glacial melt in response to climate change.
An estimated 5,000 glacial lakes, dammed by fragile rock sills called ‘morraines’, are at risk of collapse. When a moraine collapses a potentially lethal Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) occurs, sending torrents of water coursing downstream towards village communities.
Currently, 220 million people live at risk of GLOF’s. As the climate warms, this number is likely to increase as glaciers continue to melt and recede.
Several factors can cause GLOF’s, including snow or rock fall from the mountain into the glacial lake below, resulting in a tidal wave that overtops and destroys the moraine – illustrated by this animation.
With climate change accelerating glacial melt and recession, the number and volume of glacial lakes worldwide is increasing at an alarming rate. This naturally increases the likelihood of GLOF disasters and their associated risk to Himalayan communities.
The Glacier Trust is a small UK based charity that aims to support climate change adaptation in Nepal where climate change is impacting the lives of some of world’s poorest communities. We help fund our Nepali partner NGO’s to implement climate adaptations now and support scientific research to protect their future.
Ahead of COP26 we are calling on world leaders to do more to support disaster risk reduction, compensate the victims of climate change for the losses and damage they are incurring, and to close the adaptation gap.