Glacier burst in Chamoli: The last three natural disasters that shook Uttarakhand

Around 150 people are feared death following  an avalanche near a power project in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district that resulted in sudden rise in water level in Dhauliganga river. According to ANI, the flash floods have washed away a bridge, damaged a power station and forced mass evacuation of people living along the banks. 

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Uttarakhand is known to be prone to natural disasters with floods, avalanches and landslides claiming thousands of lives in the state. 

The Times of India quoted figures collated by the disaster management department stating that almost 1,128 people have been killed while 850 others have suffered injuries in the incidents triggered due to natural disasters in Uttarakhand since 2010 to 2019.

According to the data, over 110 people on an average die every year in the state due to such disasters. 

In 1999, a strong earthquake hit the Chamoli district claiming over 100 lives. In 2012, flash floods in the Himalayan region claimed several lives and left as many missing. 

Forest fires too have troubled region since the state is covered by 70% forest area.  In the 2020 forest fire, two people died while over 70 hectares of land was affected.