A large-scale avalanche occurred on Friday (February 28th) in the Himalayan region of North Uttarakhand, India, bordering China’s Tibet, trapping dozens of road construction workers who were clearing snow. Local officials reported that as of Friday evening, 33 out of the 55 trapped workers had been rescued.
According to reports from Indian media, the incident took place around 7:15 a.m. on Friday, near the Mana village in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, approximately 55 kilometers from the China-India border.
In a statement released by the Indian Army, a joint rescue team consisting of 7 officers, 17 junior officers, and 150 personnel trained in Himalayan rescue operations was deployed to the scene. The team was equipped with a professional medical team and heavy equipment.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the avalanche hit a worksite of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) burying eight containers and a shed. By late Friday, five containers had been located, while the search for the remaining three was ongoing.
Initially, it was believed that there were 57 road construction workers at the site, but later confirmed to be 55, as two were on leave.
Indian authorities reported that 33 individuals have been successfully rescued and urgently taken to nearby camps for treatment, with no reports of casualties.
Chief Minister Dhami emphasized that the government’s top priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of all trapped individuals, and hotlines have been set up for families of the affected workers.
Continuous snowfall and intermittent small avalanches have slowed down the rescue operation. However, the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) members are working tirelessly to plan the rescue of the remaining 22 workers. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are also on their way to provide support on-site.
Local officials have mentioned that due to the extreme weather conditions with ongoing snow and rain in the Himalayan region, including Mana village, rescue teams are struggling to reach the disaster site, and helicopters are unable to be deployed. Despite multiple suspensions on the rescue operation day due to weather conditions, once the weather improves, a large-scale search and rescue operation will resume.
Uttarakhand is situated in high-altitude regions of the Himalayan mountain range, with the surrounding areas of Mana village classified as high-risk zones for avalanches and flash floods in the state. Environmentalists are urging a reevaluation of local hydroelectric projects and other development activities in the area.
Responsibility Editor: Leaf Ye#