Avalanche Traps Road Workers in Uttarakhand: Rescue Operations Underway

An avalanche in Uttarakhand has trapped at least 41 workers, with 16 rescued so far. Emergency services are facing difficulties due to adverse weather conditions, as the search for the missing continues.

A massive avalanche struck a remote region in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, trapping at least 41 road workers, as confirmed by local officials. According to police spokesperson IG Nilesh Anand Bharne, 16 individuals have been safely rescued and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby army camp.

The incident took place at a camp operated by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in Mana, an area that borders Tibet. Senior district official Sandeep Tiwari reported that there are currently no confirmed fatalities, but the situation remains dire.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to social media platform X to announce that multiple rescue teams, including the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the BRO, are on the ground working tirelessly to assist those affected. Emergency responder teams, along with ambulances, have been dispatched to the area, but rescuers are facing significant challenges due to treacherous weather and terrain conditions.

Colonel Ankur Mahajan, a commander with the BRO, provided an update to the Hindustan Times, stating that the rescued workers are receiving medical attention, although the severity of their injuries remains uncertain. Local resident Gaurav Kunwar shared insights with BBC News, noting that Mana is a migratory zone with mainly laborers present during winter. He mentioned that there has been persistent rainfall in the area for the past two days, likely contributing to the disaster.

Earlier on Friday, the India Meteorological Department issued warnings of heavy rainfall and snowfall in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, along with orange alerts for several districts in the affected regions. The challenging weather conditions have added to the critical situation as efforts continue to locate and rescue those trapped by the avalanche.