High alert issued in India's Uttar Pradesh as glacier crashes into dam

NEW DELHI - Authorities in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh Sunday issued directions asking all districts along the banks of the River Ganga in the state to be on a high alert.

The directions were issued hours after a glacier crashed into a dam and triggered a huge flood in the neighboring Uttarakhand state.

Around 150 people have been reported missing in the tragedy and 10 bodies have been recovered from the areas affected by the glacier burst.

"Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the concerned departments, officers and State Disaster Response Force to be on high alert in view of the circumstances arising out of the breach of the dam in Uttarakhand," a government spokesman said. "The chief minister has also instructed the district collectors and superintendents of police of all the districts situated on the banks of the Ganges to remain vigilant."

The disaster reportedly struck at around 10:00 hours (Indian Standard Time) on Sunday and gravely affected two power projects where around 120 workers were on duty.

Around 20 workers are still stuck inside a tunnel in one of the two power projects, and efforts are being made to rescue them, local media reports quoted a security officer as saying.

Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Om Prakash had confirmed that around 150 people had gone missing as they were feared to have been swept away in flash floods following the glacier burst.

Most of the people missing are said to be laborers working at the Rishiganga power project in the state and local residents.

President of India Ram Nath Kovind expressed his worries at the glacier burst and prayed for the well-being and safety of the people.

Meanwhile, Rescue operation is underway. The Indian Navy and the Indian Army have been put on alert for carrying out the relief and rescue work in the affected areas.

The Director-General of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) S.N. Pradhan said that four rescue and relief teams of the NDRF are being flown to the area from Delhi.

"The teams will first land in Uttarakhand capital Dehradun, from where they will be further airlifted to the affected areas," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also personally monitoring the situation. "India stands with Uttarakhand and the nation prays for everyone's safety there. Have been continuously speaking to senior authorities and getting updates on NDRF deployment, rescue work and relief operations," Modi tweeted.