Avalanche Strikes Chamoli, Uttarakhand; Over 40 Workers Missing, Rescue Operations Underway

An avalanche struck Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday, trapping 57 construction workers under a blanket of snow. As of now, 16 workers have been rescued, but 41 remain unaccounted for. The incident occurred near Mana village, with the victims engaged in road construction work for the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The avalanche has also blocked the road leading to the affected area, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach the site.

The authorities have confirmed that the workers, mostly employed by a contractor, were caught in the avalanche near a BRO camp. Chamoli’s District Magistrate, Sandeep Tiwari, confirmed that 57 people were trapped, while Nilesh Bharne, a police spokesperson, mentioned that 10 workers were rescued and taken to a nearby army camp in critical condition.

Colonel Ankur Mahajan, the commander of BRO, reported that the situation remains unclear. “The avalanche occurred around 8 am in the Mana area, where workers were involved in road construction. Though 10 workers have been rescued, we are still unsure of the total number of those trapped. Some of the rescued workers have injuries, but the severity remains unknown,” he said. He further added that the affected area is currently inaccessible, with no mobile or radio connectivity, and efforts to clear the blocked road are ongoing.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has dispatched teams from Jyotirmath, with additional high-altitude teams on standby in Gauchar and Sahastradhara. These teams will be deployed by helicopter if necessary.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences and prayers for the trapped workers. “We have received the tragic news of workers trapped in an avalanche near Mana village in Chamoli. Rescue operations are actively underway, and I pray for the safety of all those affected,” he said.

The rescue operation is currently ongoing with continued efforts underway.