41 BRO Workers Missing After Avalanche Hit Uttarakhand’s Chamoli

At least 41 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers have been trapped under an avalanche in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, according to officials. The incident occurred near the border village of Mana, located around five kilometers from the Badrinath temple.

The avalanche struck on Friday, entrapping 57 workers under snow. As of now, 16 workers have been rescued and sent to an army camp near Mana village in critical condition. However, 41 individuals remain missing, and efforts to locate them are ongoing. Due to the avalanche, the road to the affected area is blocked, hindering rescue and relief operations.

Approximately 60 to 65 personnel are involved in the ongoing rescue mission. The trapped workers, engaged in road construction, were working near a Border Roads Organisation camp when the avalanche hit. The rescue operation is being led by teams from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the army, with additional support from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), who are attempting to reach the site.

Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed the number of people trapped, saying, “57 people were trapped under the snow.” Police spokesperson Nilesh Bharne provided further details, stating, "A massive avalanche has occurred near the Border Roads Organisation camp in the border area of Mana, where 57 workers engaged in road construction have been trapped." He added, “Out of these workers, 10 have been rescued and sent to the army camp near Mana in critical condition.”

Colonel Ankur Mahajan, the commander of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), stated that the full extent of the injuries sustained by the workers is yet to be determined.

The SDRF has also been quick to respond. Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi shared that a rescue team had already been dispatched from Jyotirmath (formerly Joshimath) to the site. He added, “Additionally, our high-altitude teams at Gauchar (Chamoli) and Sahastradhara (Dehradun) are on standby and will be deployed by helicopter if required.”

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his concern over the tragedy, saying, “We have received the tragic news of several workers, engaged in a construction project by BRO near Mana village in Chamoli district, being trapped due to an avalanche.” He continued, “Rescue and relief operations are underway by ITBP, BRO, and other teams. I pray to Lord Badri Vishal for the safety of all the workers.”