As many as 35 people were killed in the deluge that followed the glacier breach in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, ANI reported. According to the latest update by the state government, 204 persons are missing. Meanwhile, the rescue operation has resumed after it was was temporarily halted in Chamoli district due to a rise in the level of water in the Rishiganga river, Uttarakhand’s DGP told ANI. 

A NDRF personnel told said, “Water level is rising so teams were shifted to safer locations. Operation has resumed with limited teams.”

In the avalanche, two hydel projects — NTPC’s and Rishi Ganga, were heavily damaged. One of the two tunnels of the NTPC at Tapovan is a major site of the rescue operation. An estimated 25 to 35 people are trapped in it, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had told Parliament on Tuesday.

In the wee hours on Thursday, the ITBP started a drilling operation to peek inside the tunnel to see if it was clear of sludge “or otherwise to see chances of trapped persons being rescued from there,” it had said on Twitter.

Earlier on Thursday, Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya visited the tunnel to meet the ITBP personnel, ANI reported. 

Also read: Uttarakhand avalanche: Families of missing workers protest at Rishiganga power project site

A part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off at Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli on Sunday, leading to deluge and avalanche.