New Delhi, Feb 28: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has launched a large-scale rescue operation in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district after an avalanche buried 41 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) labourers. The incident occurred near the high-altitude border village of Mana, close to Badrinath.
NDRF Director General Piyush Anand confirmed that four teams have been dispatched to the site, with an additional four units placed on standby. "The rescue mission has been activated following directives from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure a swift response," Anand stated.
According to officials, two teams have been deployed from the NDRF’s regional response centre in Dehradun, while the other two have been diverted from Joshimath, where they were engaged in a familiarisation exercise.
The avalanche initially trapped 57 BRO workers, out of whom 16 were rescued. The labourers were engaged in clearing snow when the disaster struck between Mana and Badrinath.
Mana, situated just three kilometers from Badrinath, is the last Indian village before the India-Tibet border and sits at an altitude of 3,200 meters.
Rescue operations are currently underway, with emergency response teams working against the clock to locate and extricate the remaining trapped workers.
