A total of 32 workers of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have been rescued after being trapped under snow following an avalanche near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district.
The incident, which took place on Friday, left a total of 57 workers stranded, with rescue operations continuing for the remaining 25.
Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed the rescue effort, stating, “Out of 57 workers trapped in the avalanche, 32 workers have been rescued.”
The Uttarakhand Disaster Management Department assured that relief efforts were being carried out on a war footing.
“By 5:00 pm, 32 people had been rescued safely. The process of evacuating the remaining 25 people is in progress. Relief and rescue work is ongoing to rescue those trapped in the avalanche 6 km ahead of Badrinath Dham in Chamoli district,” the department stated.
Helpline numbers issued
In response to the calamity, the Uttarakhand government has released emergency helpline numbers for those seeking assistance or information.
The helpline is being operated through the State Emergency Operation Centre of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority.
The contact numbers provided are:
Government response
Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured that the central government was prioritising the safe evacuation of all individuals affected.
“Spoke to Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Dhami ji, DG ITBP, and DG NDRF regarding the glacier burst in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Our priority is to safely evacuate the people trapped in the accident,” Shah said.
He further informed that local administration teams were fully engaged in the rescue operations. “Two teams of NDRF are also reaching the spot soon,” he added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a post on X, also confirmed that local army units had been deployed for rescue efforts.
“An unfortunate avalanche has occurred in the Mana area of Joshimath (Uttarakhand) today, impacting the GREF camp of BRO. Spoke to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding the situation. The administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected,” Singh stated.
Army and ITBP mobilised
The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are actively involved in the rescue operations. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the deployment, stating that personnel from both the ITBP and the Army were working tirelessly to ensure the safe retrieval of those still trapped.
Rescue teams continue to work against harsh conditions in their mission to reach and evacuate the remaining 25 workers.
The situation is being closely monitored by state and central agencies, with additional reinforcements expected to join the ongoing relief operations.
Follow us
