The death toll from the devastating avalanche near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district reached eight after three four were recovered on Saturday afternoon. With this, the hunt for all those trapped under snow came to an end.
The avalanche, which struck the labour site of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Friday, buried 54 workers inside eight containers and a shed under massive piles of snow.
माणा (चमोली) में हुए हिमस्खलन में फंसे श्रमिकों के राहत एवं बचाव कार्यों का स्थलीय निरीक्षण किया। राहत और बचाव अभियान में जुटे सेना, आईटीबीपी, और स्थानीय प्रशासन की टीमों का कार्य सराहनीय है। pic.twitter.com/oLaYmtfugk
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) March 1, 2025
Thanks to prompt response efforts, 33 workers were rescued by Friday night, followed by another 17 on Saturday. Tragically, four workers succumbed to their injuries during treatment, bringing the confirmed fatality count to five. A large-scale rescue operation, involving personnel from the Indian Army, Air Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), is ongoing.
Challenges Due to Extreme Weather
Rescue efforts have been hampered by continuous snowfall and freezing temperatures, which dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius. The harsh weather forced operations to be briefly halted for the past two nights. However, authorities remain committed to recovering the remaining missing workers.
Six helicopters, including three from the Indian Army Aviation Corps, two from the Air Force, and one civil chopper, have been deployed for aerial searches. Additionally, specialized RECCO radars, drones, and avalanche rescue dogs are being utilized to detect any signs of life beneath the snow.
Chief Minister Reviews Rescue Operations
On Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the avalanche-hit region and assessed ongoing rescue and relief efforts.
On Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the avalanche-hit region and assessed ongoing rescue and relief efforts. (Photo: Pushkar Singh Dhami/X)
“The officers have been instructed to continue the search on a war footing. Every possible effort is being made to locate and rescue the missing workers,” said Chief Minister Dhami.
Several survivors of the avalanche have shared harrowing accounts of the moment disaster struck.
ALSO READ: Uttarakhand Avalanche: 4 labourers succumb to injuries, search on for 5 trapped BRO workers
Manoj Bhandari, one of the workers housed in the containers, recalled the chilling moment: “I woke up to a mountain of snow sliding from the peak. I shouted to alert everyone and ran behind a loader machine parked nearby to save myself.”
Another worker, Gopal Joshi, described the terrifying scene: “Snow was already falling heavily outside. Around 6 AM, we heard a loud thunderous noise. When we looked up, we saw an enormous wave of snow rolling down towards us. I screamed to warn my companions and started running, but the thick snow made it difficult to move. After two hours, ITBP soldiers arrived to rescue us.”
Vipin Kumar, another survivor, said he was buried under snow for nearly 15 minutes before being rescued.
Authorities Vow to Continue Efforts
With the missing workers still unaccounted for, authorities have assured that search operations will persist despite the extreme weather. More than 200 personnel from various agencies, including disaster management teams, ITBP, BRO, NDRF, SDRF, and the health department, are actively engaged in the mission.
As the situation unfolds, the state government urges people to remain vigilant in high-altitude regions prone to avalanches. Further updates are expected as rescue teams push forward in their search-and-rescue mission.
