OREANDA-NEWS. A glacier, that descended from the Himalayas, destroyed a dam and caused flooding in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. At least 11 people were killed. Although villages in the flooded valley were evacuated, the whereabouts of at least 145 people are unknown. Hundreds of people, including police, army and military helicopters, are involved in the rescue efforts.

The glacier descended from Mount Nandadevi, the second highest peak in India, part of the Himalayan mountain system. After descending the mountain rivers, it hits the dams of two hydroelectric power plants under construction. Judging by the published footage, one of the dams is destroyed. Most of the missing are workers employed at these construction sites.

The head of the Uttarakhand State police, Ashok Kumar said, that although at least 16 workers were evacuated by rescuers, more than 50 people who were at the construction site of the «Rishi Ganga» hydroelectric power plant could have died. The authorities managed to evacuate the villages in the flood zone.

«The country is praying that they are all safe», Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted after speaking with the state minister. The neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh has put on high flood alert in a number of areas.