On Friday, rescuers worked hard to save many Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers stuck after an avalanche hit in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. The avalanche was caused by a glacier burst and happened near Mana village, close to the India-Tibet border and about five kilometers from the famous Badrinath temple.
Mana village is at a high altitude of 3,200 meters. The avalanche buried eight containers and one shed with 57 workers inside. Some of the containers have been found, but rescuers are still looking for the others.
By Friday evening, at least 16 workers were rescued, according to Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Thankfully, there have been no reports of anyone being injured.
However, the rescue efforts are challenging because of rain and snowfall, which are making it hard for helicopters to help. Images shared on social media showed army personnel carrying a person on a stretcher through deep snow, with more snow still falling. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy snowfall, expecting more than 12 centimeters (5 inches) in the area.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are also facing delays in reaching the workers due to the harsh weather.
This situation reminds us of a tragic event in February 2021 when a glacier collapse in Uttarakhand claimed the lives of at least 80 people, and another avalanche in 2022 caused 16 deaths.
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