Chamoli, 28 Feb : A massive avalanche struck Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, trapping at least 41 workers of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), officials confirmed. The incident occurred near Mana village, about five kilometers from the Badrinath temple.

Out of the 57 workers stationed at the BRO camp, 16 have been rescued and shifted to an army camp near Mana village. However, their condition remains critical, an official stated.

Currently, around 60-65 personnel are involved in the ongoing rescue operation. Uttarakhand’s Director General of Police, Deepam Seth, informed that road construction workers were present at the camp when the avalanche hit.

“The rescue operation has been underway for over two hours now. The biggest challenge is the extreme weather. Heavy snowfall and strong winds are making the roads inaccessible. Snow cutters have been deployed to clear the route,” Seth added.

BRO Executive Engineer CR Meena told ANI that multiple ambulances have been dispatched to the site, but severe snowfall is obstructing their movement. Meanwhile, Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari highlighted that due to the continued snowfall and rainfall, helicopters cannot be deployed for evacuation at the moment.

A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team has left from Joshimath and is making its way to the affected area. The army has also been contacted to help clear the road in Lambagad, which remains blocked. Additionally, another rescue team is on standby at the Sahastradhara helipad, ready for aerial deployment once weather conditions improve.

Ridhim Agarwal, Inspector General of SDRF, confirmed that a drone team is prepared for assistance, but heavy snowfall has made drone operations impossible for now.

Expressing deep concern over the situation, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was saddened by the incident and assured that all necessary relief and rescue efforts are in progress. He held a high-level review meeting at the State Disaster Control Room to assess the situation.

Taking to social media, Dhami wrote, “I pray to Lord Badri Vishal for the safety of all our labor brothers.”

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke with CM Dhami and assured full support in the rescue mission, stating that all available resources were being utilized. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the top priority is the safe evacuation of those trapped. Two teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are also on their way to the site.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several hilly regions, including Uttarakhand, predicting very heavy rainfall (up to 20 cm) until late Friday night.

IMD has also warned of potential impacts such as localized flooding, waterlogging in low-lying areas, underpass closures, reduced visibility, and increased travel time due to traffic disruptions. Minor damage to unpaved roads is also expected.