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Uttarakhand avalanche: Poor visibility, snowstorm disrupt operations to rescue 57 workers

The incident took place between Mana village and Mana Pass, near the Indo-Tibetan border. The trapped men were working on a BRO project

Rescue operation underway after BRO labourers got trapped under an avalanche, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The snowslide had initially buried 57 men but 15 were pulled out safely, according to officials. (ITBP via PTI Photo)

Hours after an avalanche in Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli trapped 57 workers engaged in a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) project – 32 have been rescued so far – officials said a snowstorm in the region has impacted rescue operations.

State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi said their team is stuck at Lambadag between Uttarkashi and Badrinath. The incident took place between Mana village and Mana Pass, near the Indo-Tibetan border.

Ten of the rescued labourers are being treated at the ITBP hospital in Mana, officials said, adding that the rescue operation for the remaining workers is being carried out by the Garhwal 9 Brigade and the BRO.

Speaking with The Indian Express, Yaduvanshi said that the operations are being disrupted by the weather. “It is a bad situation, and the weather is exacerbating it. We have been informed that a snowstorm is making operations even more difficult,” he said.

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An additional team of the SDRF is on alert at Sahastradhara. “They are well-equipped and belong to the high-altitude special team. We all have the exact coordinates. But the weather is posing problems,” he said.

An officer of the BRO said the employees had been hired by a contractor for the construction of a road near Mana village.

Speaking with the media, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the visibility was poor and helicopters could not be pressed into service. “Experts, Air Force, and other services have been working. We are monitoring and trying to help all the labourers get out. We have also established a helpline for the region. We are constantly in touch with the Defence Minister, Home Minister, and PMO. We are seeking help from them. The injured are being treated at the ITBP hospital at Mana. Srinagar Medical College and Rishikesh AIIMS have also been readied,” he said.

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Secretary of the State Disaster Management Authority Vinod Kumar Suman said that 65 people have been stationed at the spot for rescue operations. “Thirty people are from the Army, and we have sent 100 personnel from the SDMA. It has been challenging as there is six-feet deep snow, and it is still snowing,” he said.

Aiswarya Raj

Aiswarya Raj is a Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, one of India's most respected media houses, specialising in in-depth coverage of Uttarakhand and the Himalayan region. Her work focuses on delivering essential, ground-up reporting across complex regional issues. Aiswarya brings significant journalistic experience to her role, having started her career at The Indian Express as a Sub-Editor with the Delhi city team. She subsequently developed her reporting expertise by covering Gurugram and its neighboring districts before transitioning to her current focus. She is an accomplished alumna of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) and the University of Kerala. Her reporting is characterized by a commitment to narrative journalism, prioritising the human element and verified facts behind critical events. Aiswarya’s beats demonstrate deep expertise in state politics, law enforcement investigations (e.g., paper leak cases, international cyber scams), human-wildlife conflict, environmental disasters, and socio-economic matters affecting local communities. This specific, sustained focus on critical regional news provides the necessary foundation for high trustworthiness and authoritativeness on topics concerning Uttarakhand. ... Read More

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