The recent nature’s fury in Uttarakhand, triggered by the breaking down of a glacier in the Tapovan area of Chamoli district, led to large scale deaths and destructions. But at the same time, it also brought to the fore the indomitable human spirit to fight against all odds- even in the face of such a devastating catastrophe that came unannounced on the morning of February 7, 2021.
One name which stands out among those who immediately got on to rescue operations is that of IPS officer Aparna Kumar. Even when the death toll crossed 150, the Indo Tibetan Border Force (ITBP) was at the forefront of search and rescue operations, and leading its teams is Ms. Kumar.
In fact, Ms. Aparna’s own physical prowess- she is a renowned mountaineer – has been coming in handy in the ITBP operations.
RESCUE OPERATION HEADED BY IPS APARNA KUMAR
Ms. Aparna Kumar spoke exclusively with Indian Masterminds, giving us the insides of the rescue operations and the steps taken to provide relief to the affected people.
By the evening of 7 th, February, the day on which the calamity took place, Ms. Kumar and her team had already rescued 12 people stuck in the tunnel and admitted them to the ITBP hospital. They were discharged the very next day as no one had suffered any grave injuries.
“My team is trying to enter further into the tunnel. They have already covered around 70-75 meters into the tunnel and are removing the mud, sludge, and debris blocking it. JCB loaders are going inside and taking out the muck, clearing the path so that the rescue operation can take place” Ms. Kumar said.
STEPS TAKEN TO PROVIDE RELIEF
The bridge that collapsed near Raini village immediately cut off access to 13 villages. Beyond that, even eight to ten border outposts of ITBP are also cut off due to the glacier burst. To provide relief to the several people that have been affected, the Uttarakhand government and ITBP are taking several steps.
“The Uttarakhand government is sending out helicopters with supplies and ration to the affected regions. Moreover, we have opened a control room at a place called Lasa village, and we are collecting all the ration supply from there and distributing it among the villages that are at a higher altitude. ITBP is also involved in search and relief operations in and around Raini village” stated Ms. Kumar, the DIG of ITBP Uttarakhand.
BETTER CONDITION THAN BEFORE
Talking about the current condition of the place, Ms. Kumar describes that the flow of water has regained its normal position. It has subsided and is not enhanced.
“The water is back in its normal condition and we are focusing on rescuing the people that are still stuck in the tunnels or the debris of the aftermath. According to the weather reports, we are expecting a little rain in the next two to three days, which might cause a slight level of difficulty in clearing the mud and slush because more water will enter again, and we will have to clear everything again. But otherwise, everything is under control and we are hopeful” Ms. Kumar pointed out in her conversation with Indian Masterminds.
The aftermath of the glacier burst has already claimed several lives. Let’s hope these numbers soon come to an end and Uttarakhand restores its majesty again.
