Avalanche strikes Chamoli, Uttarakhand; 57 feared buried in snow

An avalanche struck Chamoli, Uttarakhand, on Friday, trapping at least 57 workers under snow. The disaster blocked roads, delaying rescue efforts.

The avalanche hit near Mana village, where construction workers were on duty. ITBP and the army launched rescue operations while SDRF and NDRF rushed to the site.

Chamoli DM Sandeep Tiwari confirmed that 57 people were trapped.

Police spokesperson Nilesh Bharne said the avalanche occurred near a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp. “A massive avalanche hit a BRO camp near Mana, trapping 57 workers engaged in road construction. Rescuers pulled out 10 workers in critical condition and sent them to an army camp,” he told ANI.

Colonel Ankur Mahajan, BRO commander, said they were still assessing the situation. “Around 8 am, we received reports of an avalanche in Mana. Some workers were on duty for road construction. We don’t have an exact headcount yet. Ten people have been rescued, some with injuries. They are receiving treatment,” he told HT.

Reaching the affected area remains difficult. “There’s no mobile or radio connectivity. The road before Hanumanchatti is blocked. We are working to clear it. Our teams are making every effort to reach the site,” Mahajan added.

SDRF commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi said his team is on the move. “We have dispatched a team from Jyotirmath. Our high-altitude teams in Gauchar and Sahastradhara are on standby. If needed, helicopters will deploy them,” he said.

Authorities continue rescue efforts, hoping to save more lives.