With search and rescue works continuing in the area affected by the disaster on February 7 in Chamoli district, the death toll has remained 38 while 166 persons are still missing. Efforts are continuing to reach between 25 to 35 persons stuck in a tunnel of the Tapovan-Vishnugad power project with more than 115 metres of the tunnel being cleared of the debris. Drilling work has also been started in the tunnel. However, debris in the form of sludge resulting in backflow is continuing to pose a hindrance in clearing of the tunnel.
Meanwhile, the DIG (Law and Order) and chief spokesman of Uttarakhand police, Nilesh Anand Bharne informed that the local police, SDRF, fire service and FSL personnel are continuing search, rescue, relief and DNA sampling works in the disaster affected areas. Of the total of 204 persons reported missing in the disaster, the bodies of 38 have been recovered so far from different locations. While 13 bodies have been identified, 25 bodies are yet to be identified. A total of 14 first information reports have been lodged in the Joshimath Kotwali regarding the missing persons. At the same time, 19 body parts have been found at various locations in Chamoli. Observing all the guidelines for DNA sampling and preservation, the bodies and human body parts recovered so far have been kept for identification at community health centres in Joshimath, Karnprayag and the district hospital in Gopeshwar. The committee formed for proper disposal of the bodies has so far conducted the funeral of 24 bodies and 11 body parts will all religious rites. The police are also operating a control room at the headquarters which can be reached at 0135-2712685 and 9411112958. In addition to this, the Uttarakhand police is also in touch with the police of states regarding the list of missing persons and identification of bodies recovered. The ornaments, tattoos and other identification marks on the bodies are being photographed to help in the identification.
In the disaster affected area of Chamoli, 100 personnel of the SDRF personnel, 176 of NDRF, 425 of the ITBP, one team of the SSB, 125 personnel of the armed forces, two army medical teams along with two ambulances, six medical teams of the state health department, four experts of the ITDA, 16 fire service personnel and others concerned are involved in search, rescue, relief and other related efforts. On Saturday, an airforce helicopter brought three professors from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, three scientists of DRDO and one SDRF jawan to the disaster site.
Sunday, 14 February 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
