Rescue Operation Continues After Avalanche in Mana, Uttarakhand

The rescue operation continued late into Saturday evening after an avalanche struck Mana, near Badrinath in Chamoli district, early on Friday. Reports confirmed the deaths of four workers. As of the time of writing, 46 out of 54 workers had been rescued safely. Among them, 13 were rescued on Saturday, while the search for four missing workers is still ongoing.

Rescue Efforts by Authorities

According to Chamoli district administration, teams from the Army, ITBP, BRO, and local authorities took charge of the rescue operation early on Saturday. A total of 26 workers were airlifted to Jyotirmath (Joshimath) by Army helicopters, with four of them being seriously injured and admitted to the Army hospital. Another 20 workers are safe in ITBP and Army camps in Badrinath. Later in the evening, two workers were airlifted from Joshimath to AIIMS Rishikesh via helicopter ambulance.

Confirmation of Casualties

Lieutenant Colonel Manish Srivastava released a video confirming the deaths of four individuals. Jyotirmath police station in-charge, Devendra Pant, reported that one body had been transported from Mana to Jyotirmath and identified as 40-year-old Mohinder, a resident of Himachal Pradesh.

Avalanche Details and Rescue Operations

Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari stated that the avalanche occurred at around 5:30 AM on Friday near Mana Pass. At the time, 57 BRO workers were staying in container shelters, three of whom were on leave. The rescue operation has been bolstered with multiple air support resources, including an Air Force Mi-17 helicopter, three Cheetah helicopters, two helicopters from the Uttarakhand government, and an air ambulance from AIIMS Rishikesh.

Search for Missing Workers

All eight containers in the avalanche-hit area, where workers were staying, have been located. However, none of the missing workers have been found inside them. Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman stated that the Army has deployed a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) from Delhi to assist in locating the missing individuals. Additionally, Army sniffer dogs have been deployed, and three Army teams are conducting extensive patrolling in the affected area.

Chief Minister Visits Avalanche-Affected Area

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the avalanche-affected area to assess the ongoing relief and rescue operations. He inquired about the well-being of the rescued workers and received updates from military officials and administrative teams, issuing necessary directives.

Alert Issued for All Mountainous Districts

Considering the risk of snowfall and avalanches in Uttarakhand, the Disaster Management Department has issued an alert for all mountainous districts of the state. Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman stated that all district magistrates have been instructed to remain extra vigilant.

Prime Minister Takes Update on Rescue Operation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh are closely monitoring the ongoing rescue operation in Mana. Modi spoke with the Chief Minister in the morning and assured that the central government would provide all necessary assistance for relief and rescue efforts. CM Dhami emphasized that ensuring the safety of affected workers remains the top priority. Teams from the administration, Army, and SDRF are actively engaged in relief operations.