Rescue operations in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, gained momentum on Saturday with four Army helicopters joining efforts to save the remaining eight workers still trapped under snow following an avalanche near Mana Village. So far, 47 out of the 55 trapped workers have been rescued, Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed.
“The four helicopters, deployed with the help of the Central and State governments, have significantly bolstered the rescue efforts,” Tiwari said. “We’ve brought seven people to Joshimath Hospital for treatment, where they are under doctors’ observation. Three of them are stable. We hope the remaining people will also be rescued soon.”
The avalanche struck on Friday, trapping workers from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Joint rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been ongoing at full pace.
“Initially, 33 people were rescued, three of whom were critically injured and treated at Mana’s Army Hospital before being transferred to the Military Hospital in Joshimath,” Tiwari explained. “Today, an additional 14 workers were rescued, bringing the total number of those safely evacuated to 47.”
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is closely monitoring the situation and receiving real-time updates. Helicopter services have been deployed to facilitate swift evacuation efforts. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), CM Dhami shared an update on the rescue progress.
“During the rescue operation near Mana, 14 more workers have been safely rescued,” he wrote. “The rescued workers are receiving the best possible medical care. Three seriously injured workers have been transferred to the Army Hospital in Jyotirmath for treatment.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with CM Dhami earlier in the day to review the ongoing rescue efforts. “The Prime Minister assured that the central government will provide all possible assistance to deal with any emergency,” Dhami posted on X.
CM Dhami had earlier visited the disaster control room in Dehradun to assess the rescue operations firsthand. The Uttarakhand government has issued helpline numbers for those seeking assistance or information related to the avalanche. The helpline numbers, managed by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, are:
- Mobile: 8218867005, 9058441404
- Telephone: 0135 2664315
- Toll-Free: 1070
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also placed its medium-lift Mi-17 V5 helicopters and light choppers on standby, ready to assist as soon as weather conditions improve. Officials confirmed that the IAF is coordinating closely with the local administration to provide timely support for relief operations.
As the search for the remaining eight workers continues, rescue teams remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all those affected by this tragic incident.
