CHENNAI: India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant said he will donate his match fee towards rescue operations for the glacier burst in Uttarakhand and also encouraged others to come forward and contribute.
The 23-year-old wicketkeeper, who is currently playing in the first Test against England in Chennai, expressed grief over the loss of lives in the calamity. He tweeted, "Deeply pained by the loss of life in Uttarakhand. Would like to donate my match fee for the rescue efforts and would urge more people to help out."
In an earlier post-Pant wrote on Sunday, he conveyed his grief over the loss of lives in the natural calamity. He tweeted, "My sincere condolences and prayers for the families of those affected by the Uttarakhand flash floods. I hope that the rescue operations underway are able to help those in trouble."
On Sunday, a glacier broke in the Tapovan-Reni area of Chamoli District of Uttarakhand that triggered massive flooding in Dhauliganga and Alaknanda Rivers and damaged houses and the nearby Rishiganga power project.
According to reports, the Director General of ITBP, SS Deswal informed that around 100 workers were at the site out of which, 9-10 dead bodies have been recovered from the river.
The rescue operations had to be suddenly stopped in Dhauliganga due to the rise in the water level of the river, informed Yashwant Chauhan, Superintendent Police, Chamoli.
Meanwhile, Tapovan Hydro-Electric Power Dam, also known as Rishi Ganga Project was completely washed off following a glacier burst in the Chamoli district, said the Indian Air Force's initial report as Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) deployed at Joshimath has undertaken recce of affected areas.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of those who lost their lives due to the glacial burst.
CM Rawat informed that as of now, the Uttarakhand government has assumed around 125 people missing after the glacial burst, although the number could go up. He also added that the government has all the needed assistance to handle the situation for now.