Photos: Uttarakhand glacier blast

A glacier burst in Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Sunday led to a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river, endangering the lives of several people living along its banks. Homes along the way were swept away as the waters rushed down the mountainsides in a raging torrent. There were fears of damage in human settlements downstream. Many villages were evacuated and people took to safer areas. More than 150 labourers working at the Rishi Ganga power project may have been directly affected, news agency PTI quoted State Disaster Response Force DIG Ridhim Aggarwal as saying. A high alert has been issued in Uttarakhand while authorities in all districts of the state on the banks of the Ganga river have been asked to continuously monitor the water level. The NDRF, SDRF and PAC Flood Company are been given instructions to be on the highest alert, an official statement said.