New Delhi, Feb 28 – A massive avalanche in Uttarakhand buried 41 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) labourers alive on Friday, while two people lost their lives in Jammu due to heavy rains and boulder crashes. The extreme weather disrupted road, rail, and air traffic across northern India, with authorities warning of further avalanches in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh.
Avalanche Traps BRO Workers in Chamoli
Officials reported that 57 workers were initially caught in an avalanche near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, close to the India-Tibet border. Sixteen were successfully rescued, while 41 remain trapped. The avalanche buried a BRO camp between Mana and Badrinath, according to Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari.Located at an altitude of 3,200 meters, Mana is the last Indian village near the border. Rescue efforts by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are underway despite continuing snowfall and rain.
Casualties and Rescues in Jammu and Kashmir
In Jammu, a woman and her son lost their lives when a boulder crashed onto their two-wheeler near Moungari in Udhampur district. Elsewhere, eleven labourers stranded in the flooded Ujh river in Kathua district were rescued by a joint team of police and SDRF. Another dramatic rescue took place in the Niki Tawi area, where police and SDRF personnel saved a dumper driver whose vehicle was submerged in the river.Heavy Snowfall Paralyzes Transport
The strategic 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains shut due to heavy snow accumulation, landslides, and mudslides between Nashri and Banihal. Rail, road, and air travel in Kashmir were severely impacted, with overnight snowfall disrupting services. While Srinagar saw light snowfall, major tourist destinations like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam received heavy snow. Morning flights at Srinagar airport were delayed but resumed after 11 AM.Train services on the Budgam-Baramulla section were also affected due to snow-covered tracks.
Education Disruptions and Weather Warnings
The Jammu and Kashmir government extended winter vacations for schools in the Valley and Jammu’s winter zone until March 7 due to severe weather conditions. In Himachal Pradesh, schools and colleges in Chamba and Manali were shut, although CBSE board exams remain unaffected.Authorities have issued an avalanche warning for areas above 2,300 meters in Himachal Pradesh, urging residents to restrict outdoor movement.
Himachal Pradesh Faces Road Closures and Landslides
Around 200 roads remain blocked due to heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, cutting off Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba, and Shimla from the rest of the state. In Kullu, heavy rains flooded Akhara Bazaar and Gandhi Nagar, and fresh snowfall led to the closure of roads beyond Nehru Kund near Solang Nallah, Gulaba, Atal Tunnel, and Rohtang.A landslide at Banala disrupted traffic on the Manali-Kiratpur National Highway, with restoration efforts delayed due to falling stones.
Record Snowfall and Rainfall Across the Region
According to the meteorological office, Kothi recorded the highest snowfall at 120 cm, followed by Khadrala (115 cm), Keylong (75 cm), Kalpa (46 cm), and Kukumseri (38.8 cm).Heavy rainfall was reported in Seobagh (113.2 mm), Bhuntar (113.2 mm), Banjar (112.4 mm), Jogindernagar (112 mm), and Chamba (97 mm).
An orange alert has been issued for heavy snowfall in Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, and higher reaches of Chamba, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Kangra.
Punjab and Haryana Experience Temperature Drops
Rainfall in Punjab and Haryana caused temperatures to plummet. Amritsar (17.5 mm), Gurdaspur (20.7 mm), and Ludhiana (5.8 mm) saw significant showers, while Haryana’s Ambala (6.2 mm), Karnal (4 mm), and Hisar (2.8 mm) recorded moderate rainfall.Weather to Improve from Friday Afternoon
The meteorological office predicts that the weather will begin clearing from Friday afternoon, offering some relief. However, authorities continue to advise caution in avalanche-prone areas.As rescue operations continue in Uttarakhand and other affected regions, the extreme weather has left northern India grappling with heavy snowfall, disrupted infrastructure, and loss of lives.
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