New Delhi (India), February 28: Rescue operations are ongoing in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district after a massive avalanche trapped 57 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) construction workers near Mana village. As of Friday, 16 workers have been rescued, with 41 still trapped under the snow.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has mobilized four teams for the rescue, focusing on evacuating as many workers as possible. NDRF Director General Piyush Anand confirmed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been closely monitoring the operation and has provided clear directives to save every life.
“16 people have been evacuated. Our focus is on rescuing a maximum number of people. The Union Home Minister has spoken to me and the DG of ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police), and has directed us to ensure no lives are lost,” said Anand.
Uttarakhand’s Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Suman stated that the ongoing snowfall is making rescue efforts challenging. Despite these difficulties, 65 rescue personnel are on the ground, and the operation continues. Suman added that a demand has been made for an Army helicopter to assist with the efforts.
“Rescue teams have been deployed, and we are working tirelessly to rescue the trapped workers. The situation is difficult due to continuous snowfall,” said Suman. He confirmed that the 10 workers rescued so far have been admitted to the ITBP hospital in Mana.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also addressed the situation, stating that the weather conditions are preventing helicopter services from being used. He confirmed that 41 workers remain trapped, but that efforts are ongoing to pull them out.
“Helicopter services cannot be used due to inclement weather. The rescue mission is underway, and we are in constant touch with the offices of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister,” Dhami said.
In light of the disaster, the Uttarakhand government has issued helpline numbers for those seeking information or assistance related to the avalanche. The helpline numbers are as follows:
- Mobile No: 8218867005, 9058441404
- Telephone No: 0135 2664315
- Toll-Free No: 1070
Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured that the government is fully committed to ensuring the safe evacuation of all affected personnel. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed support, confirming that local army units are providing all possible assistance.
The rescue operation remains in full swing, with authorities working tirelessly to save lives amidst the challenging conditions.