The death toll in India from a flash flood caused by the breaking off of a Himalayan glacier rose to at least 26 Monday, as rescue workers continue to search for about 200 missing people, officials said.
The broken piece of Nanda Devi Glacier sent a wall of water and debris down a valley on Sunday, broke through two dams and destroyed bridges and roads when it hit two hydroelectric plants.
A team of scientists flew to the region on Monday to find out what caused the disaster – some experts already blamed global warming.
Whatever the cause, “Everything was wiped out – people, livestock and trees,” said Sangram Singh Rawat, a former village councilor from Raini, the site closest to one of the damaged hydroelectric power plants.
Employees recovered at least 26 bodies. More than 2,000 members of the military, paramilitary groups and police continued a massive search and rescue operation for about 200 still missing people.
Most of the missing were workers of the two power plants, 37 of which were trapped in a 1.5-mile tunnel filled with mud and rocks.
“The tunnel is filled with debris coming from the river. We use machines to clear the way, ”said H. Gurung, a senior official in the Indo-Tibetan Paramilitary Border Police.
The floodwaters also damaged homes, but it was unclear how many residents were dead or missing. Government officials sent food packages and medicines to at least two flood-hit villages.
While scientists are investigating the cause of the glacier breaking, some have noted that it snowed heavily in the Nanda Devi area last week, possibly caused by an avalanche as it started to melt.
Others are already blaming global warming, noting the overall melting and disintegration of the world’s glaciers.
“This is very much like climate change, as the glaciers are melting due to global warming,” said Anjal Prakash, research director and assistant professor at the Indian School of Business.
The disaster also raises questions about the strength of the dams.
“The dams should withstand a lot more force. This was not a monsoon flood, it was much smaller, ”said Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the South Asia Network of Dams, Rivers and People.
With pole wires