New Delhi: In the high-altitude border village of Mana, Uttarakhand, a devastating avalanche struck on Friday, burying a camp of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under debris. The disaster occurred in Chamoli district, where rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police have been working tirelessly to save the trapped workers. Initially, 55 workers were trapped, with 47 rescued so far. However, eight workers remain trapped, and their fate hangs in the balance.
The rescue operations have been hampered by severe weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and strong winds. Despite these challenges, the teams have managed to rescue a significant number of workers. The Indian Air Force has kept its helicopters on standby, ready to deploy once the weather improves. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of all possible assistance from the central government to deal with the emergency.
Chief Minister Dhami visited the disaster control room in Dehradun to oversee the rescue efforts and directed officials to expedite the operation. He emphasized that all agencies are working on a war footing to evacuate the stranded workers. The state government has also set up a helpline to assist the families of the trapped workers, who hail from various states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.
