(Image source from: x.com/ani_digital)
Officials reported today that over 41 workers from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are trapped beneath an avalanche in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This incident occurred in proximity to the border village of Mana, situated roughly five kilometers away from the Badrinath temple. Out of the total 57 workers involved, 16 have already been rescued and transported to an army camp near Mana in critical condition, according to an official statement. Approximately 60 to 65 individuals are actively participating in the rescue efforts. Deepam Seth, Uttarakhand's Director General of Police, noted that the workers were present at the BRO camp during the avalanche.
"The rescue operation has been ongoing for about two hours. The severe weather conditions pose the greatest difficulty. With heavy snowfall and strong wind, the roads are entirely obstructed. We have dispatched snow cutters to clear the paths," added Mr. Seth. "Three to four ambulances have been dispatched, but the heavy snowfall is hampering our rescue teams' access," remarked CR Meena, an Executive Engineer with BRO, to news agency ANI.
Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari indicated that ongoing rain and snow are preventing the deployment of helicopter services, creating challenges with movement. A team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has set out from Joshimath toward the site of the disaster. The army has been notified to assist in clearing the route at Lambagad, which has become inaccessible due to the blocked roads. Additionally, another team is on standby at the Sahastradhara helipad. Once the weather improves, the SDRF's high-altitude rescue team will be helicoptered to the closest suitable location. The SDRF's drone unit is also primed to assist, although current heavy snowfall renders drone operations unfeasible, according to Inspector General of Police Ridhim Agarwal from SDRF.
On Chamoli avalanche, Indian Army says, "An avalanche struck a camp here near Mana village. In this, 20 people of Border Roads Organisation were buried. Till now, 10 persons have been rescued and are under treatment. We have inputs that 22 more persons feared buried are safe. The… pic.twitter.com/KQKD6fyspr
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2025
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his sorrow regarding the incident and confirmed that relief and rescue measures are in progress. Mr. Dhami convened a meeting with senior state officials at the State Disaster Control Room to evaluate the ongoing rescue efforts. In a message shared on social media platform X (previously known as Twitter), he prayed for the safety of all the laborers involved. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured Mr. Dhami that every measure is being taken to rescue those trapped using all available resources. Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the priority remains the safe evacuation of those affected by the incident, noting that two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are en route to the location.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released an orange alert for several mountainous areas, including Uttarakhand, predicting significant rainfall until late Friday night. They have warned of potential localized flooding on roadways, water accumulation in low-lying regions, and the closure of underpasses, especially in urban settings. Expectations also include sporadic reductions in visibility due to heavy rain, extended travel times due to traffic disruptions, and minor damages to unpaved roads.
