Toll climbs to 10 in Uttarakhand glacier burst, 143 still missing
Dehradun: IAF teams left for the avalanche-hit areas of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district early on Monday to ramp up relief efforts, while rescuers pulled out three more bodies of the people missing in the glacier burst taking the toll to 10.
Uttarakahnd DGP Ashok Kumar said 143 people are still missing, a day after the glacier burst triggered a massive avalanche and floods in the Alaknanda river system.
The efforts are focussed at the moment on rescuing 30-35 people trapped in a 250-metre long tunnel at Tapovan, he said.
A total of "153 people were missing from the two hydel projects at Raini and Tapovan out of which 10 bodies have been recovered while 143 are still missing," Kumar said.
The two hydel projects bore the brunt of the "one time " mishap in which the Rishi Ganga hydel project at Raini was totally destroyed and the one at Tapovan suffered partial damage, he said.
Though all arrangements are in place there is no need for any heli rescue in the affected areas. Only two villages including Raini are cut off where essentials are being supplied, the DGP said.
The sudden flood in the Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers -- all intricately linked tributaries of the Ganga -- triggered widespread panic and large-scale devastation in the high mountain areas.
Homes along the way were also swept away as the waters rushed down the mountain sides in a raging torrent. There were fears of damage in human settlements downstream, including in heavily populated areas. Many villages were evacuated and people taken to safer areas. PTI ALM
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Second batch of Dasara elephants arrives in Mysuru, training for grand finale intensifies
Mysuru : Mysuru welcomed the second batch of five Dasara elephants, including three debutants, on Monday evening. Their weights were recorded Tuesday morning at the 60-year-old lorry weighing bridge on Dhanvanthri Road, as reported by Deccan Herald.
Among them, 43-year-old Sugreeva from Dubare camp topped the scales at 5,545 kg, followed closely by 56-year-old newcomer Srikanta from Matthigodu camp of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve at 5,540 kg. Gopi (42) from Dubare camp weighed 4,990 kg, while debutant Roopa (44) from Bheemanakatte camp registered 3,320 kg. The youngest, Hemavathi (11) from Dubare, weighed 2,440 kg.
This second batch has joined the first group of nine elephants : Abhimanyu, Lakshmi, Kaveri, Bheema, Mahendra, Ekalavya, Prashantha, Dhananjaya, and Kanjan , for daily training sessions.
On Tuesday morning, all 14 elephants marched in perfect formation along the Jamboo Savari procession route (Raja Marga), from Mysuru Palace’s North Gate to Government Ayurveda College Circle. Spectators thronged the streets to photograph and record the majestic sight. Forest officials, police, and a metal detector-equipped escort vehicle accompanied the herd to ensure safety.
With 36 days left until the iconic Dasara Jamboo Savari on October 2, training will now intensify. The elephants are currently being acclimatised to the procession route, both in daylight and under evening lights. Upcoming sessions will include familiarisation with cannon fire, participation in royal family rituals, and practice with wooden howdahs weighing as much as the 750-kg golden howdah carried by Abhimanyu for the past five years.
To build stamina, the elephants are on a special diet of boiled rice with pulses, vegetables, and butter before and after training, supplemented with paddy, coconut, jaggery, groundnut cake, sugarcane, and fresh fodder during the day.
The first batch of nine elephants arrived on August 4 after the traditional Gajapayana send-off from Veeranahosahalli near Nagarahole Tiger Reserve and were welcomed at Mysuru Palace.
