Deadly dam breach, India

This item appears on page 5 of the April 2021 issue.

On Feb. 8 in the northern-India state of Uttarakhand, a large section of a Himalayan glacier broke off into the Dhauliganga River in a narrow canyon. This resulted in a buildup of water that then broke through. The massive surge of water breached a dam and flooded a valley, killing at least 58 people. Another 146 are missing and presumed dead.

The flood additionally destroyed bridges, isolated some small communities and did serious damage to a power plant downriver.