Home Minister’ Reports at Lok Sabha: War Footing, Rescue Operation for People Trapped in a Tunnel

On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reported at Lok Sabha on the current updates regarding the disaster-struck Uttarakhand. He revealed about an ongoing effort on a war footing. The glacier burst in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district has taken lives, many have gone missing, whilst the rescue work is also running with full swing. 

During his address at the Lok Sabha session on Tuesday, Shah shared details of the disaster along with the current updates related to the rescue operation. “About 25-35 people are feared to be trapped in the second tunnel of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) project. The efforts are underway on war footing to rescue them”, said the Home Minister, adding, “A total of 12 people of NTPC project were safely rescued from one tunnel. Fifteen people of Rishi Ganga project were also rescued at the time of the incident”.

He mentioned that the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been working day-and-night, appointing its 450 jawans to the search and rescue operation. Apart from ITBP, as per the Home Minister’s statement – “A total of 5 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are at the site. Eight teams of Army also there, one medical column and an ambulance are also positioned at the site of the incident. A diving team of the Navy has also been deployed in the state”. 

He also revealed that 5 helicopters of the Air Force are on constant service; also, control of the army has been set up at Joshimath.