A massive avalanche struck struck a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, burying 54 workers under snow. Rescue teams have saved 50 people so far, but four workers tragically lost their lives. The search continues for the remaining four missing labourers, with multiple agencies using advanced technology and aerial support to locate them.
#WATCH Uttarakhand: Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel carrying out rescue operations in avalanche-hit area of Chamoli district.
4 people have died in the avalanche incident.
(Source: ITBP) pic.twitter.com/frrVj3pY5p
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 1, 2025
Top updates on rescue efforts in Chamoli:
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- A total of 50 workers have been rescued from the avalanche-hit BRO camp. Sadly, four of them died-one during treatment in Jyotirmath and three in Badrinath-Mana.The deceased have been identified as Mohindra Pal and Jitendra Singh from Himachal Pradesh, Manjit Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, and Alok Yadav from Uttarakhand. Authorities are now focused on locating the four missing labourers-Harmesh Chand from Himachal Pradesh, Ashok from Uttar Pradesh, and Anil Kumar and Arvind Singh from Uttarakhand.
- Heavy snowfall and rain hampered rescue efforts on Friday, forcing operations to be suspended overnight. However, with clear weather on Sunday, the pace of the mission has increased.
- Personnel from the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are working tirelessly to locate the missing workers. Over 200 personnel are engaged in the high-intensity rescue operation.
- Initially, five workers were reported missing. However, Sunil Kumar from Himachal Pradesh managed to reach home safely on his own, lowering the number of missing workers to four.
- Specialized rescue tools such as Victim Locating Cameras (VLC), Thermal Imaging Cameras, Ground Penetration Radar (brought from Delhi), and avalanche rescue dogs have been deployed to detect buried individuals. If weather permits, drones, quadcopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will also be used in the search.
- Six helicopters, including three from the Army Aviation Corps, two from the Indian Air Force (IAF), and a civil helicopter hired by the Army, have been engaged in the rescue efforts. The Indian Air Force’s Cheetah helicopters continue to airlift injured workers to the Army Hospital in Joshimath.
- Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, GOC-in-C, Central Command, and Lieutenant General DG Mishra, GOC, Uttar Bharat, have reached the avalanche site to oversee operations. According to Lieutenant General Sengupta, the road remains inaccessible due to snow, further complicating rescue efforts.
- Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the avalanche site and praised rescue teams for their swift action. He directed officials to continue the search on a war footing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took an update on the situation and assured full support from central agencies.
#Uttarakhand Chief Minister #PushkarSinghDhami conducts an aerial survey of the areas affected by the #avalanche in #Mana, #Chamoli.
47 of the total 55 people who were trapped have been rescued so far. Rescue and relief operations are still underway. Watch
(Reports ANI) pic.twitter.com/w7YMjRx5HU
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) March 1, 2025
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