Chamoli (Uttarakhand) [India], March 1: The Chamoli district in Uttarakhand continues to witness intense rescue operations following a devastating avalanche that struck on February 28, trapping 55 workers from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). As of Saturday noon, 49 workers have been successfully rescued, with 7 still missing.
The avalanche occurred at around 7:15 AM on February 28, hitting a General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) camp near Mana village in the Garhwal Sector, burying workers inside eight containers and a shed. The avalanche was triggered by heavy snowfall, which hampered both rescue and relief operations in the region.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the affected area and took stock of the ongoing operations at the disaster control room in Dehradun. In his update, Dhami confirmed that 49 people had been rescued by Saturday noon, with 7 still unaccounted for. He further mentioned that over 23 workers had been airlifted to Joshimath for medical treatment, some of whom sustained serious injuries.
“Over 200 personnel, including teams from the Indian Army, SDRF, and NDRF, have been mobilized for the rescue operations. We are doing everything possible to trace the remaining individuals trapped under snow,” Dhami said.
The Indian Army, which has been leading the operations, shared that by 11:50 AM on Friday, five containers had been located, leading to the rescue of 10 workers, four of whom were reported to be in critical condition. As of Saturday morning, 14 more people were rescued, bringing the total to 48.
District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed that four army helicopters had been deployed to rescue the remaining trapped workers. He stated that seven rescued workers were being treated at Joshimath Hospital, with three stable and four in critical condition.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reviewed the rescue operation and expressed his support to the Uttarakhand government. “The Central Government, under the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah, is providing all necessary resources to ensure the safety of the workers,” Dhami assured.
In addition to the snow and avalanche risks, Dhami reported that more than five blocks in the region were without electricity and internet due to continuous snow. He further added that the flow of water in the Alaknanda River had slowed down due to the snow, creating additional concerns.
Rescue efforts are continuing, and search teams remain focused on locating the remaining workers trapped in the avalanche. The Uttarakhand government has also issued helpline numbers for any emergency assistance:
- Mobile No: 8218867005, 9058441404
- Telephone No: 0135 2664315
- Toll-Free No: 1070
The situation remains critical as rescue teams work around the clock to ensure the safe recovery of the remaining workers.