A part of a Himalayan glacier broke off in Northern India triggering an avalanche which destroyed a hydroelectric dam on Sunday. Video of the destruction and rescue efforts emerged on social media as at least 140 people are missing.
According to NPR the area is prone to landslides and flooding and it’s dangerous to build a dam there:
The disaster began around 10:45 a.m. local time when part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in an ecologically fragile area of Uttarakhand, an Indian state wedged between Nepal and China, high in the Himalayas. Environmentalists have long cautioned against building dams and power plants there, because it’s so prone to landslides and flooding.
Press play to watch the video below:
What a disaster. Here’s hoping for more survivors. We really need to think about the environment. This is just one of the many wake up calls in recent times.