ISRO, DRDO studying glacier burst cause: Uttarakhand CM

As recue and relief operations continue in Chamoli and adjoining areas of Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Monday said that a comprehensive analysis of the entire incident is being carried out to avert future tragedies.

In an interview to news agency PTI, the Chief Minister said that the incident appeared to have happened due to the breaking of the glacier and the Chief Secretary has been instructed to find out the real reasons.

“A DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) team is already studying the cause of this tragedy and we have also sought the help of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) scientists and experts for the same,” CM Rawat said.

After a comprehensive analysis is undertaken to find out the reasons of this incident, “we will build an elaborate plan to avert any potential tragedy going forward”, he added.

The CM said that the administration has “made all arrangements needed for the rescue and relief operations along with providing healthcare facilities to the affected people. Most importantly, we are working on re-establishing the connectivity to the affected villages”.

Rawat said multiple teams have been drawn, both from the Centre and the state’s disaster relief agencies, along with the defence forces who have been convened to lead the huge rescue operations.

Asked what could be the economic loss of this tragedy, the CM said as far as the assessment of economic loss is concerned, it will be available only after the relief work is over. “The Rishiganga Power Corporation and the NTPC are assessing the damage to their projects. But, right now our topmost priority is to save lives and rehabilitate the affected people,” he said.