Chamoli: At least 25 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers remain trapped after an avalanche struck the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, media sources reported on Friday. The avalanche occurred near the border village of Mana, located about five kilometers from the Badrinath temple.
A total of 57 workers were in the area when the avalanche hit, with 22 successfully escaping the disaster. The rescued workers are currently being treated for injuries.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with around 65 personnel from the Indian Army and ITBP involved. Deepam Seth, Uttarakhand’s Director General of Police, stated that the primary challenge in the operation is the harsh weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and strong winds. Road access is blocked, and snow cutters have been deployed to clear the way.
Five ambulances have been dispatched to the site, but continuous snowfall and rain have hindered vehicle movement, according to Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari. A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team has also left Joshimath and is heading to the disaster area.
The Indian Army has been tasked with clearing the route at Lambagad, which is currently impassable due to road blockages. An SDRF high-altitude rescue team will be deployed by helicopter once weather conditions improve. Meanwhile, drone operations have been delayed due to the severe snowfall, as confirmed by Ridhim Agarwal, Inspector General of Police, SDRF.
Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been dispatched from Rudraprayag, Haridwar, and Dehradun.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his sorrow over the incident and reassured the public that rescue efforts are in full swing. He held a meeting with top officials at the State Disaster Control Room to monitor the situation. In a social media post, Dhami said, “I pray to Lord Badri Vishal for the safety of all the labour brothers.”
