The North News
New Delhi, February 28
Rescue operations continue at a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) project site near Mana, India’s northernmost village, where 42 people are still trapped after an avalanche hit the area Friday. Fifteen people have so far been rescued, the officials said. According to the State Disaster Response Force, their team has left Joshimath. Rescue operations are being carried out by the Garhwal 9 Brigade and the BRO, the news outlet The Indian Express reported. The IG, SDRF, Ridhim Aggarwal, said that an SDRF team has already been dispatched from Joshimath. Due to road blockage at Lambagad, efforts are underway to clear the route with the assistance of the army,” the news outlet said.
According to media reports, the snowslide, which struck at 7:15 am on Friday, initially buried 57 workers inside eight containers and one shed. While 16 were rescued, the fate of the others remains uncertain as search operations continue. The Indian Army, which swiftly responded to the disaster, deployed over 100 personnel from the Ibex Brigade, along with doctors, ambulances, and specialized equipment. By 11:50 am, rescue teams had located five containers and successfully pulled out 15 individuals alive, though four remain in critical condition, the media reports suggested. Efforts are ongoing to reach the remaining three containers.
The BRO camp, situated at an altitude of 3,200 meters, was engaged in infrastructure work near Mana, located just three kilometers from Badrinath and known as the last village on the India-Tibet border. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and preparedness of workers involved in high-altitude projects, particularly during harsh winter conditions. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami acknowledged the tragedy, stating that relief and rescue operations were underway with teams from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), BRO, and other agencies. “I pray to Lord Badri Vishal for the safety of all the labour brothers,” he said. However, as families anxiously await updates, questions are being raised about whether adequate precautions were taken to prevent such a disaster.
