Avalanche leaves 4 dead, 5 missing in Uttarakhand as rescue efforts intensify

Four people have been confirmed dead, and five remain missing after an avalanche struck a Border Roads Organization (BRO) project site in Mana of Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. Rescuers have so far saved 50 out of the 55 workers trapped in the disaster, offcials said.

The workers, hired by a contractor to clear a stretch for a BRO road project between Mana village and Mana Pass, were inside bunkers when the avalanche hit at around 7:15 a.m. on Feb 27. According to district administration officials, eight bunkers were affected, prompting an extensive rescue operation.

Lt. Col. Manish Srivastava, spokesperson for the Indian Army in Dehradun, confirmed that injured individuals were being prioritized for evacuation while efforts continued to locate the remaining five missing persons. “Senior Army officers have reached the accident site to personally oversee the rescue operations,” he said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured full support from the central government to assist with the ongoing relief efforts.

Rescue teams, including the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and BRO personnel, began operations early on Feb 28. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also joined the efforts, deploying 28 personnel to assist in the mission. “The weather has cleared, and we are hopeful that aid from the help center will reach the area soon,” said a senior official, Suman.

Adverse weather conditions, including poor visibility and a snowstorm, had previously hampered rescue efforts, officials said. With improved conditions, rescuers remain hopeful about locating the missing workers as operations continue.