Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 1: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak confirmed on Saturday that the state government is in constant communication with the Uttarakhand administration regarding the ongoing rescue operations for Uttar Pradesh workers trapped in a devastating avalanche in Chamoli.
“The Uttarakhand government is making continuous efforts to rescue workers from Uttar Pradesh who are trapped in the incident (avalanche) there. We are in continuous touch with the Uttarakhand government. We pray to God for their safe return home. We are also in touch with the relatives of the workers,” Pathak said, expressing hope for their safe return.
Meanwhile, rescue operations are in full swing, with four army helicopters deployed to search for and save the remaining eight individuals trapped under the snow following the avalanche near Mana Village in Chamoli. As of Saturday, 47 out of the 55 workers trapped have been successfully rescued.
Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed the operation’s progress, stating, “Of the total 55 people, 47 have been rescued from Mana. We have brought seven people to Joshimath Hospital, where they are under doctors’ observation. Three of them are stable, and I hope that the remaining people will be rescued soon.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took immediate action, speaking with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to review the rescue efforts. “Respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji spoke on the phone and took information about the rescue operation being carried out to safely evacuate the workers trapped in Mana of Chamoli district,” CM Dhami shared on social media.
The workers, employed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), were caught in the avalanche on Friday. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police are working tirelessly in a joint operation to rescue the remaining workers.
The Uttarakhand government has provided the following helplines for assistance:
- Mobile No: 8218867005, 9058441404
- Telephone No: 0135 2664315
- Toll-Free No: 1070
Rescue efforts continue as the search for the remaining workers intensifies.