Chamoli: A devastating avalanche struck Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district near Badrinath on Friday, February 28, trapping 41 workers engaged in road construction near Mana village, close to the India-Tibet border. Out of the 57 workers present at the site, 16 have been rescued and shifted to an army camp for medical attention. The ongoing rescue operation, led by multiple agencies including the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), has been severely hampered by heavy snowfall and blocked roads. The workers were involved in clearing snow for army movement when the avalanche struck, causing widespread panic and trapping several individuals under the snow.

Efforts to evacuate the trapped workers have been challenging due to treacherous road conditions and continuous snowfall, which have delayed ambulance movements. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has assured full support for the rescue mission, stating that all possible resources are being deployed to ensure the safety of those still trapped. Meanwhile, Chamoli district magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed that no fatalities have been reported so far, but the situation remains critical. A high-altitude rescue team is on standby at the Sahastradhara helipad, awaiting favorable weather conditions for aerial deployment. The army has also been called in to assist in clearing the snow-covered routes leading to the accident site.

The avalanche occurred despite prior warnings issued by the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) regarding avalanche risks in Chamoli and surrounding districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had also forecasted heavy snowfall in the region, leading to alerts from the State Emergency Operations Centre. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been in touch with the Uttarakhand government, ensuring that all possible assistance is being provided. As the rescue teams battle extreme weather conditions, the focus remains on securing the trapped workers and preventing further casualties in the disaster-stricken area.