A team of the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) suspect that the “Hanging Glacier”, who feeds the Kheer Ganga channel, may have contributed to the series of flash floods in Dharli on 5 August.
HT reported on 7 August that the initial analysis by the National Disaster Management Authority indicated that a glacier collapse could cause flash floods.
According to the Divecha Center for climate change in IISC, there are 219 hanging glaciers in Alakananda and Bhagirathi valleys, which has completed the geo-stable mapping of glaciers hanging glaciers in Uttarakhand as part of an ongoing study.
A hanging glacier is one that comes out high on the wall of a glacier valley and descends only part of the surface of the main glacier.
Also read Uttarkashi blocks landslide major route during Chamoli in Uttarakhand after flash floods.
“Through geopolitical analysis, we have mapped all 219 hanging glaciers in Alakananda and Bhagirathi Basins. We also found that this special glacier was in a very weak position on Kheer Ganga channel. In fact, there are two hanging glaciers with a combined quantity as well as a combined quantity. Generally, if we can inspect the sequential growth, then we can inspect the sequential growth, if we can inspect the sequential growth, then we can inspect the sequences and then Run-off points for two possibilities.
“In IISc we are doing a lot of modeling exercises to understand which part of these hanging glaciers is unsafe for the troop. The hanging glaciers are very sensitive to warming. The surface starts very quickly with melting and melting,” said Kulkarni.
The Himalayan Municipal Dhadati Manch has written to the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone monitoring committee; Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; And the Ministry of Water Power on Monday demanded accountability for the Dharli disaster. He mentions a letter by uniform civil society organizations sent to the BesZ Monitoring Committee on April 30, 2024, stating that indiscriminate construction on river and mountainous areas should stop immediately.
The Indian Army has penetrated radar equipment from the Siachen Glacier, even rescue teams in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand are running against time and digging holes in mute debris to find missing people. People aware of the matter said that GPRS from Sichen are in addition to the existing people who are being used by army personnel and other agencies. Those brought from Siachen are usually used by defense forces in cases of avalanche.
Also read Uttarkashi: NGRI experts launched a search operation to detect missing 66 in disaster-hit Dharal
Separate, about 200 NDRF personnel are also using their own radar and life detecting devices to report the disappearance to people. On the sites where the missing people may be trapped with a 4 km stretch between Dharli and Harshil, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is divided by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and allocated to various teams/agencies.
Over the weekend, the NDRF Delhi headquarters also sent two more ground penetrating radar devices to the team at the ground. A senior NDRF official said, “The site has mountains of mute debris. Some of the tall buildings in the form of 2-3 floors are completely buried in the mud debris. The rescue and search work there involves manually digging at the locations identified as locals and eyewitnesses. We expect to make progress,” a senior NDRF officer said.
