Uttarakhand disaster: Lake forming above Raini village near Tapovan, officials rushed to site

A lake has been forming above Raini village near Tapovan area and is likely to affect rescue operations which are underway in the area for missing persons since the Sunday's glacier burst in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. A team of State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) has been rushed to the site to assess the situation.

Confirming the formation of the lake, Uttarakhand SDRF DIG Ridhim Aggarwal said, "There's a possibility that water is being accumulated above Raini village near Tapovan area. Many aerial recces have been done."

"An 8-member SDRF team has been sent today on foot to assess the situation. Further action to be taken after evaluation," she added.

Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar also confirmed that the lake has been forming in the area and that a joint team of SDRF and NDRF has been sent to the site.

"We have sent a team of SDRF and NDRF for recce after we received information about the formation of a lake in the area above Raini village," he said.

The Chamoli Police earlier informed that the water level in the Rishiganga is rising and the people living in nearby areas are being alerted. The police have requested people to be on alert and not to panic.

Talking about the ongoing rescue operations at a tunnel in Joshimath, where some 30 persons are reportedly trapped since February 7, Ashok Kumar said, "Today, we will try to drill and gain entry into a smaller tunnel which is 12 meters below the existing tunnel as there might be a possibility of human presence there."

He also confirmed that 36 dead bodies have been recovered so far while 168 persons are still missing in the higher reaches of Himalayas. Relief and rescue operations are underway in full swing in affected areas.