Glacial burst at Sumna on the Indo-China border near Reni in Uttarakhand

A glacier burst at a remote place on the Indo-China border in Uttarkhand on the afternoon of April 23, 2021, according to a senior official. There is no word yet of any casualties.

“A glacier has burst near Uttarakhand’s Joshimath on the India-China border,” Colonel Manish Kapil, commander, Border Road Task Force, was quoted as saying in media reports.

The area where the mishap has happened — Sumna in Chamoli district — doesn’t have any human habitation. The incident has happened around 100 kilomtres from the village of Reni, which was struck by an avalanche in February. It has not been confirmed yet as to whether the current incident is a glacial lake outburst or an avalanche.

Atul Sati, a Joshimath-based environmental activist told Down To Earth:

This area is really far away and has no human habitation. There are no telephone networks there. The last habited village is Fakti, which is around five kilometers from Reni. Sumna is around 100 kilometres from there. The only people there are the Border Roads Organisation officials and labourers. There is no information on how much damage to life and property has been caused by this incident.

The road being constructed at Sumna will link the border areas to the Rishikesh-Niti Bharatmala road project.

“The weather had been very bad from the last three-four days with heavy snowfall and rainfall. We haven't noticed an increase in the water level of Alaknanda so far,” Sati added.