A devastating avalanche in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district has once again raised concerns over administrative lapses and reckless construction in high-risk areas. The avalanche struck a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp in Mana between 5:30 am and 6:00 am on February 28, trapping 54 workers. While 46 were rescued alive, eight tragically lost their lives. Activists are now pointing fingers at the authorities, accusing them of ignoring prior avalanche warnings issued by the Chandigarh-based Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment on February 27. The State Emergency Operations Centre, which should have taken immediate precautionary steps, only alerted district magistrates after the disaster had already occurred. This incident has reignited debates on the dangers of infrastructure expansion in vulnerable Himalayan regions, with experts warning that unregulated construction is increasing the frequency and intensity of such natural calamities.
Social workers and geologists argue that these deaths could have been prevented had authorities acted responsibly. Atul Sati, convener of the Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, criticized the administration for disregarding the warning and failing to relocate workers to safer areas. He also highlighted the apparent misdirection by the state government, which issued an advisory for tourists in Auli—an area with no history of avalanches—rather than addressing the failures that led to the tragedy. Similar concerns were raised by renowned geologist MPS Bisht, who emphasized that the Nar Parvat region, where the avalanche originated, has always been prone to snowslides. Despite past disasters, including a 2021 avalanche in Niti Valley that killed multiple workers, construction in these high-risk zones has continued unchecked, with little consideration for environmental stability.
The repeated loss of lives in such incidents reflects a systemic failure to learn from past mistakes. Activists like Mangala Kothiyal stress that authorities must implement stronger safety protocols, including timely evacuations and stricter regulations for construction in avalanche-prone zones. Even local residents, such as Mana village head Pitambar Molfa, have expressed concerns over the administration’s disregard for seasonal patterns, pointing out that workers previously relocated to Badrinathpuri during winters for safety but were left in their container houses this time. The recent tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to prioritize human safety over infrastructure expansion. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent due to climate change, experts warn that failure to act now will only result in more disasters in the future.
