Rescue operations continue in Uttarakhand&rsquo;s Chamoli district after a massive avalanche on Friday trapped workers engaged in road construction near Mana village, close to the India-Tibet border. Officials reported that 47 workers have been rescued, while 8 remain unaccounted for amid challenging weather conditions. &nbsp;
Rescuers pulled out 14 more labourers from the snow that engulfed a BRO camp in the high-altitude Mana village as search operations resumed on Saturday. With this, 47 of the 55 labourers who were initially trapped have been evacuated. Thirty-three had been rescued by Friday night. &nbsp;
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the disaster control room on Saturday to review the situation and directed officials to expedite the ongoing rescue efforts. He assured that all agencies were working on a war footing to evacuate those still stranded. &nbsp;
The avalanche struck a Border Roads Organization (BRO) camp approximately 3 km ahead of Badrinath Dham, where workers were clearing snow to facilitate army movement. Heavy snowfall has hampered rescue operations, with rescue teams from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Indian Army working in coordination. &nbsp;
Authorities have deployed multiple rescue teams, including one from the SDRF stationed in Joshimath. Another high-altitude rescue team remains on standby at the Sahastradhara helipad, awaiting improved weather conditions for aerial deployment. The Indian Air Force has kept helicopters on standby to assist as soon as visibility improves. &nbsp;
Rain and snowfall hampered rescue efforts on Friday, forcing the operation to be suspended as night fell. The search resumed on Saturday morning, leading to the successful evacuation of 14 more workers. &nbsp;
CM Dhami announced the establishment of a temporary control room in Joshimath to facilitate better monitoring of the situation. &ldquo;The PMO, HMO, and RMO are constantly taking updates. Some rescue teams are also moving by road despite treacherous conditions,&rdquo; he told reporters. He also confirmed that a helpline has been set up for the families of the trapped workers. &nbsp;
Disaster management secretary Vinod Kumar Suman provided a correction to earlier reports, stating that two of the initially reported 57 trapped workers were actually on leave, bringing the total affected to 55. Of these, 47 have been rescued, while the search continues for the remaining 8. &nbsp;
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy snowfall and rainfall in Uttarakhand. Snow accumulation at the avalanche site is reportedly over seven feet deep, further complicating rescue efforts. More than 65 personnel are engaged in the operation. &nbsp;
According to a list released by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, the trapped workers belong to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. However, the home states of 10 workers remain unconfirmed.
With weather conditions still challenging, authorities are racing against time to complete the rescue operation and ensure the safe evacuation of those still trapped. &nbsp; (With agency input)

More than 65 personnel are engaged in the rescue operation

As rescue efforts continue, CM Dhami visits disaster control room

Uttarakhand Avalanche: 8 Still Trapped

As rescue efforts continue, CM Dhami visits disaster control room

March 1, 2025 | 10:40 IST