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In Pictures: The deadly glacier collapse in Indian Himalayas

Glacier burst in northern India triggers avalanche and flash flood that washes away hydropower projects and bridges.

A chunk of Himalayan glacier broke off and unleashed a devastating flash flood that has killed more than a dozen people so far. [Arvind Moudgil/EPA]
Published On 8 Feb 2021

More than a dozen people are confirmed dead and at least 170 others missing after a chunk of a Himalayan glacier broke off and unleashed a devastating flash flood in India.

The wall of water barrelled down a valley in the northern state of Uttarakhand on Sunday morning, destroying bridges, roads and two hydroelectric power plants.

The Uttarakhand government said on Monday 14 bodies have been recovered from various locations while local officials said 170 others were missing. Fifteen had been rescued.

Some were trapped in two tunnels cut off by the floods and by mud and rocks.

With the main road washed away, paramilitary rescuers had to climb down a hillside on ropes to reach the entrance.

Several hundred rescue workers resumed their search operation at first light on Monday including national and state disaster response teams, the army and navy diving teams.

Officials said two dams had been emptied to stop the floodwaters from reaching the holy towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar where authorities barred people from going near the river.

Villages on hillsides overlooking the river were evacuated but, as night fell, authorities said the main flood danger had passed.

Floods in 2013 in Uttarakhand, which borders Tibet and Nepal, killed 6,000 people and led to calls for a review of development projects in the state.

A wall of water barrelled down a valley in India's Himalayan north on Sunday morning. [Screengrab: ANI via Reuters]
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A rescue operation near the Dhauliganga hydropower project after a portion of Nanda Devi glacier broke off, at Reni village in Chamoli district, Uttrakhand. [Arvind Moudgil/EPA]
Fourteen people were confirmed dead on Monday and at least 170 others are still missing. [Handout/Indo-Tibetan Border Police via AFP]
A labourer talks to State Disaster Response Fund personnel during rescue operations. [AFP]
Rescue workers during their operation near the Dhauliganga hydropower project in Reni village, Chamoli district. [Handout: State Disaster Response Force via EPA]
Several hundred rescue workers resumed their search operation at first light on Monday, including national and state disaster response teams, as well as the army and navy diving teams. [Reuters]
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An inspection near the damaged Dhauliganga hydropower project. Officials said two dams had been emptied to stop the floodwaters from reaching the holy towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar where authorities barred people from going near the river. [AP Photo]
Members of Indo-Tibetan Border Police search for survivors. Scores of social media users captured the disaster, with footage showing water tearing through the narrow valley below one of the power plants with terrifying force. [Reuters]
Rescuers search for bodies in the downstream of Alaknanda River in Rudraprayag [Rishabh R. Jain/AP Photo]
Rescuers leave on a boat to search for bodies in the downstream of Alaknanda River. More than 2,000 members of the military, paramilitary groups and police have been taking part in search-and-rescue operations. [Rishabh R. Jain/AP Photo]
Members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) during a rescue operation at a tunnel near Tapovan dam in Chamoli district. [Handout/Indo-Tibetan Border Police via AFP]