150 Indian labourers reportedly missing following glacial burst in Uttarakhand

About 150 labourers working in a power project were reported to have gone missing after a glacier broke and crashed into a dam in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district today.

The glacier burst triggered massive flooding in Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers, forcing emergency evacuations from nearby human settlements, officials and media reports said.

Disaster management teams have been deployed and Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel pressed into rescue operations, they said.

The state government has warned against visiting the banks of Alaknanda and Ganges rivers from Vishnuprayag, Joshimath, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Rishikesh, or Haridwar.

The water level in the Dhauliganga river swelled suddenly following the gush of water near the Rishiganga power project at Raini village of Chamoli district. Chamoli district magistrate has instructed officials to evacuate people living in villages on the bank of Dhauliganga river.

"A disaster has been reported from Chamoli district. The district administration, police department, and disaster management have been ordered to deal with this disaster. The government is taking all necessary steps," Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat tweeted.

He said there was also a possibility of flooding in lower areas of the Alaknanda river, which merges with the Ganges river, due to the sudden rush of water. People settled along the river are being removed from the area, Rawat added.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Rawat and took stock of rescue and relief work. Additional four National Disaster Response Force teams are being airlifted to Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand, said an Indian Home Ministry spokesperson. The Indian government is constantly monitoring the flood situation in Uttarakhand following the glacier burst, Home Minister Amit Shah said.