Dehradun, March 1 – Rescuers in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district successfully pulled 14 more labourers from the snow-covered Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp in Mana village, following an avalanche that struck early on Friday. However, eight workers remain trapped as rescue operations continue, officials reported.
With this latest development, a total of 47 out of 55 trapped labourers have now been rescued. On Friday, 33 labourers were pulled to safety before worsening weather conditions forced a temporary suspension of the operation.
District Disaster Management Officer N K Joshi stated that personnel from the Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), stationed in Mana, swiftly resumed the search for the missing labourers.
Authorities confirmed that three critically injured labourers, rescued on Friday, were airlifted from the ITBP hospital in Mana to Jyotirmath Army Hospital for advanced medical treatment, according to Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari.
"We hope the clear weather will speed up the rescue operation," he added.
According to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, the trapped labourers hail from multiple states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. However, a list released by the authority included only 10 names, without specifying their respective states.
Located at 3,200 metres above sea level, Mana is the last Indian village on the India-Tibet border, situated just three kilometres from Badrinath. The region frequently experiences extreme weather conditions, making rescue operations particularly challenging.
Authorities continue to push forward with their efforts, hoping to bring all missing workers to safety as soon as possible.
With this latest development, a total of 47 out of 55 trapped labourers have now been rescued. On Friday, 33 labourers were pulled to safety before worsening weather conditions forced a temporary suspension of the operation.
Rescue Operations Resume with Aerial Support
The search efforts, hampered by heavy snowfall and rain on Friday, resumed on Saturday morning with improved weather conditions. Helicopters have now joined the operation, providing aerial support to the rescuers.District Disaster Management Officer N K Joshi stated that personnel from the Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), stationed in Mana, swiftly resumed the search for the missing labourers.
Authorities confirmed that three critically injured labourers, rescued on Friday, were airlifted from the ITBP hospital in Mana to Jyotirmath Army Hospital for advanced medical treatment, according to Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari.
"We hope the clear weather will speed up the rescue operation," he added.
Chief Minister Likely to Visit Avalanche Site
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is expected to visit the avalanche-hit area to assess the ongoing rescue and relief efforts.According to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, the trapped labourers hail from multiple states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. However, a list released by the authority included only 10 names, without specifying their respective states.
Massive Rescue Effort Underway
Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman reported that over 65 personnel are actively engaged in the rescue operation, working tirelessly to locate and retrieve the remaining labourers.Located at 3,200 metres above sea level, Mana is the last Indian village on the India-Tibet border, situated just three kilometres from Badrinath. The region frequently experiences extreme weather conditions, making rescue operations particularly challenging.
Authorities continue to push forward with their efforts, hoping to bring all missing workers to safety as soon as possible.
