A day after an avalanche struck a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Badrinath, the Indian Army confirmed that four rescued labourers have succumbed to their injuries, while others continue to receive treatment at an Army hospital. The rescue operation remains ongoing, with efforts focused on evacuating the remaining five workers who have been trapped for over 24 hours.
To expedite the operation, six helicopters have been deployed to transport the injured to Joshimath for urgent medical care. According to Lt Col Manish Shrivastava, PRO & Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, at least 23 individuals have already been evacuated. The Indian Army, along with rescue teams, is racing against time as heavy snowfall and the risk of further avalanches pose significant challenges.
In a bid to enhance search efforts, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing to deploy the Drone-Based Intelligent Buried Object Detection System (DIBODS). Air Force officials stated that the system would be airlifted to Dehradun before being transported by helicopters to the avalanche-hit region in Chamoli. Meanwhile, with a slight improvement in weather conditions, three injured personnel have been flown from Mana to Joshimath using Indian Army-hired civil helicopters. The Army emphasized that all available resources are being utilized in collaboration with various agencies.
The rescue operation was temporarily halted at nightfall, making it even more difficult to locate the trapped workers amid deep snow and low visibility. By the end of Day 1, search teams had managed to save 33 workers. However, the situation remains dire, as seven feet of snow surrounds the avalanche site. Uttarakhand’s Disaster Management Secretary, Vinod Kumar Suman, acknowledged the difficulties in reaching the trapped workers.
The avalanche struck at 7:15 AM on Friday, burying 55 BRO workers inside eight containers and a shed while they were engaged in clearing snow to facilitate army movement in Mana, the last village on the Indo-Tibetan border. Efforts are currently focused on three remaining containers where workers are believed to be trapped.
According to Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, Union Defence Ministry spokesperson, more than 100 personnel from the Indian Army’s Ibex Brigade, including doctors, ambulances, and specialized equipment, were deployed immediately after the disaster. By 11:50 AM on Friday, rescuers had traced five containers and pulled out 10 individuals alive, though four of them remained in critical condition.
Heavy snowfall continues to complicate the operation, and intermittent small-scale avalanches in the area are slowing progress. Teams are proceeding with extreme caution to ensure the safety of both the trapped workers and the rescuers. The General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF), a division of BRO, is working to clear the snow-laden roads, allowing additional medical aid to reach the site from Joshimath.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been closely monitoring the rescue efforts from his residence, maintaining regular contact with officials. He spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who assured full central government support. Dhami later shared an update on X, stating that PM Modi was briefed on the situation and had pledged all possible assistance.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with Dhami, as well as with the Director Generals of the ITBP and NDRF, stressing that the top priority remains to rescue the remaining workers. Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a successful evacuation and extended support for all necessary emergency measures.
The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority confirmed that the trapped workers hail from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. The rescue teams continue their relentless efforts, with hopes of reaching the remaining survivors despite the challenging conditions.
