At least four workers lost their lives, and five remain missing after a massive avalanche struck a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp in Mana, a high-altitude village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, on Friday morning. A total of 55 workers were trapped under the snow, out of which 50 have been rescued so far.
Rescue Operations Face Harsh Conditions
The avalanche hit the BRO camp between 5:30 am and 6 am, burying the workers inside eight containers and a shed, according to Army officials. Since then, rescue teams have been battling extreme weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, to save the trapped workers.
Chamoli district magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed that the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Indian Army personnel deployed in the region swiftly initiated rescue efforts despite the challenging conditions. However, heavy snowfall hampered operations on Friday, forcing authorities to suspend the mission as night fell.
On Saturday, after an improvement in the weather, six helicopters were deployed for evacuation as the roads remained blocked. These include three Cheetah helicopters from the Indian Army, two from the Indian Air Force, and one civil helicopter.
Uttarakhand CM Conducts Aerial Survey
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the avalanche-hit area and interacted with an injured worker who was being airlifted to Jyotirmath for treatment.
“Took stock of the situation by conducting an aerial survey of the avalanche area near Mana in Chamoli district,” Dhami wrote on X. He assured that the state government is working promptly to ensure the safety of the affected workers and has instructed officials to conduct relief and rescue efforts efficiently.
Sources By Agencies
