In pictures: Uttarakhand glacier breaks - Over 150 feared dead in flash flood

This screengrab from a video by KK Productions shows a massive flood of water, mud and debris flowing in the Chamoli District after a portion of Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Tapovan area of the northern state of Uttarakhand, India.

The glacier broke off in Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district today, causing a massive and endangering the lives of people living along its banks.

A dam is shattered by a river in Chamoli, Uttarakhand

About 150 workers at NTPC Ltd.'s hydropower plant are feared trapped or swept away after a flash flood that destroyed key infrastructure when a Himalayan river burst its banks. This photograph provided by Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) shows ITBP personnel begin rescue work.

The government has asked the Army to help district administration and disaster teams of the central and state government in their rescue operations. Further, Indian Air Force assets, both fixed wing as well as rotary, are on standby to provide all possible assistance to the affected persons.

The Rishiganga hydropower project near Raini village in Uttarakhand state was damaged, as was NTPC's under-construction project on river Dhauli Ganga near Tapovan, said Vivek Pandey, spokesman for the Indo-Tibetan Police Force that's aiding the rescue. India's army is at the site and the air force is on standby. Three bodies were recovered near the NTPC Tapovan project, according to Pandey. Authorities attribute the devastation to an avalanche triggered by a glacier breach at about 11 a.m. local time Sunday. People living on the bank of the Alaknanda river have been asked to immediately evacuate.

A helicopter conducts an aerial survey after a Himalayan glacier broke and crashed into a dam at Raini Chak Lata village in Chamoli district.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation in Uttarakhand and spoke to Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and other top officials. He took stock of the rescue and relief work. "Am constantly monitoring the unfortunate situation in Uttarakhand. India stands with Uttarakhand and the nation prays for everyone's safety there. Have been continuously speaking to senior authorities and getting updates on NDRF deployment, rescue work and relief operations," he tweeted.

Rescue operation underways after a flash flood occurred following an avalanche at Reni village in Joshimath area of Chamoli district.

Authorities emptied two dams in a bid to stop the flood waters reaching the Ganges at the towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar, where authorities have barred people from going near the banks of the sacred river, officials said. Rescue operation underway at the tunnel near Tapovan dam to rescue trapped people following an avalanche, in Joshimath area of Chamoli district.

Ghats along the river Ganges are emptied as a precautionary measure in Hariddia, after a portion of Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Tapovan area of the war, Innorthern state of Uttarakhand.

A police offer asks pilgrims to leave as ghats along the river Ganges are emptied as a precautionary measure in Haridwar, India, after a portion of Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Tapovan area of the northern state of Uttarakhand, Sunday, Feb.7, 2021.

Chamoli: Family members wait for news of their relatives, who have been missing after the glacier broke off in Joshimath causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand,

Chamoli: Locals inspect the site near damaged Dhauliganga hydropower project at Reni village.

A security person closes Lakshman Jhula, a suspension bridge across the River Ganges as a precautionary measure in Rishikesh.