Avalanche buries 57 workers at BRO camp near Badrinath; rescue ongoing
Avalanche buries 57 workers at BRO camp near Badrinath; rescue ongoing

Summary

NEW DELHI: A massive avalanche strikes a BRO labor camp between Mana and Badrinath at 7:15 AM, burying 57 workers inside eight containers and oneโ€ฆ

NEW DELHI: A massive avalanche strikes a BRO labor camp between Mana and Badrinath at 7:15 AM, burying 57 workers inside eight containers and one shed. The Indian Army swiftly deploys over 100 personnel from the Ibex Brigade, including doctors, ambulances, and equipment. By 11:50 AM, rescue teams locate five containers and save 10 workers, with four in critical condition.

 

 

Search operations continue for the remaining trapped workers amid heavy snowfall. GREF is clearing roads between Joshimath and Mana, while additional medical teams mobilize for rescue efforts.

 

Avalanche buries 57 workers at BRO camp near Badrinath; rescue ongoing
Avalanche buries 57 workers at BRO camp near Badrinath; rescue ongoing

 

Rescue operations commenced promptly, with teams from the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) mobilized to the site. By 11:50 AM, rescuers had successfully extricated 16 individuals, three of whom were transported to a military hospital for treatment. The remaining workers are still unaccounted for, and efforts to locate them are ongoing. 

 

 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep concern over the incident. In a post on X, he said,โ€œSad news was received about many workers being buried under an avalanche during the construction work being carried out by BRO near Mana village in Chamoli district. Relief and rescue operations are being carried out by ITBP, BRO and other rescue teams. I pray to Lord Badri Vishal for the safety of all the labour brothers.โ€

 

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The rescue mission faces significant challenges due to continuous heavy snowfall and the threat of subsequent avalanches, which have rendered access routes treacherous. Efforts are underway to clear the road between Joshimath and Mana to facilitate the movement of additional medical and rescue teams. 

 

Avalanche buries 57 workers at BRO camp near Badrinath; rescue ongoing
Avalanche buries 57 workers at BRO camp near Badrinath; rescue ongoing

 

This tragic event underscores the inherent risks faced by workers in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region, which is prone to avalanches and has been significantly impacted by global warming. In 2022, a similar avalanche in the region resulted in the loss of 27 trainee mountaineers. 

 

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, prioritizing the safety of both the trapped individuals and the rescue teams operating under hazardous conditions.