Dehradun, February 28: A total of 32 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers have been rescued after being trapped under an avalanche near the high-altitude border village of Mana in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, sources reported on Friday. Rescue operations have been temporarily halted due to adverse weather conditions and the risk of further avalanches.
The avalanche struck a BRO camp located between Mana and Badrinath, burying workers under heavy snow. Multiple teams braved the challenging terrain, heavy snowfall, and persistent rainfall to carry out rescue operations. So far, there have been no reported casualties.
Mana, located just three kilometers from Badrinath, is the last village on the India-Tibet border at an altitude of 3,200 meters. The rescued workers have been shifted to an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp in Mana village, where they are receiving necessary medical assistance.
Sources revealed that two mild avalanches followed the initial one, prompting authorities to suspend the rescue operation for safety reasons. The site remains vulnerable to avalanches during the winter season. Officials have stated that rescue efforts will resume once weather conditions improve.
The head of Mana village mentioned that in previous years, the BRO camp was typically relocated to Badrinath during winter. However, this year, due to lower-than-usual snowfall, the camp was not moved. The avalanche is reported to have originated from the Nar mountain, which, along with the Narayan mountain, forms the backdrop of the sacred Badrinath Dham, with the Alaknanda River flowing between them.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, and further updates on rescue efforts are expected once operations resume.
