India / No danger of flooding in lower areas, water level receding: Amit Shah

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha that respective agencies of the Centre and State are monitoring the situation in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district where a glacier burst resulted in a massive avalanche and flashflood.

"All agencies of the Centre and State are monitoring the situation. A total of 450 jawans of ITBP, five teams of NDRF, eight teams of Indian Army, a Navy team and five helicopters of the Indian Air Force are engaged in search and rescue operation," he said.

The Home Minister further informed that the Uttarakhand government has said that the floods no longer pose a threat to the low-lying areas and the water level is receding. "Uttarakhand Government has stated that there is now no danger of flooding in the lower areas and water level is also receding. Electricity restored in most areas, BRO carrying out repair work of 5 damaged bridges," Shah said.

While speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the Home Minister said that the first instalment of the State Disaster Risk Management Fund of Rs 468 crore, allocated to Uttarakhand for the Financial Year 2020-21, has been sanctioned to the state.

"In the Financial Year 2020-21, Rs 1,041 crore has been allocated to Uttarakhand under the SDRF fund. The first instalment of Rs 468 crore, has already been sanctioned to the state. We are taking all necessary precautions to step up safety and rehab work," he added.

A glacier broke off at Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, leading to a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river and causing large-scale devastation in the upper reaches of the ecologically fragile Himalayas.