Badrinath avalanche updates: 32 of 57 BRO workers rescued, extreme weather hampers rescue ops

Thirty-two of the 57 Border Roads Organisation workers trapped under an avalanche near the high altitude border village of Mana in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district were rescued on Friday, sources said.

The avalanche has buried a camp of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) between Mana and Badrinath and multiple teams battled tough terrain, heavy snow and rain to rescue the workers. There was no immediate news of any casualties.

Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said, "The situation is critical there, because there is 6-7 feet of snow. A team of 65 is carrying out the rescue operation there."

Badrinath avalanche live updates: Google Earth visuals show the remote spot in Chamoli

Google Earth visuals show the remote spot in Chamoli amid the lofty Himalayan mountains where 41 BRO labourers are still trapped after an avalanche hit their camp.

The incident site is close to Mana, three kilometres from Badrinath and the last village on the India-Tibet border at a height of 3,200 metres.

An Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force spokesperson said a "heavy landslide" hit a civil workers' camp along Mana GST road at 5 am amid continuous snowfall.

"ITBP and Army rescue teams swiftly launched rescue operations, evacuating 10 injured workers who are now receiving treatment at the medical facilities of the two forces. "Efforts are on to locate and evacuate the remaining trapped workers, despite extreme weather challenges," the spokesperson said.

Workers from Jharkhand are also among those feared trapped under an avalanche that buried a camp of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday, an official said.

The exact number of workers from Jharkhand or their details, however, are not known.

"There have been reports of several workers working under BRO in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district being trapped under a broken glacier," Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said in a post on X.

On Chamoli avalanche rescue mission, NDRF DG Piyush Anand said, "16 people have been evacuated. Four teams of NDRF have been mobilised. The Union Home Minister is monitoring this operation closely. He has spoken to both me and DG ITBP. Our focus is on rescuing a maximum number of people. The Home Minister has given clear directions to save every life."

On Chamoli avalanche, Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Suman said to news agency ANI, "The situation there is difficult as there is continuous snowfall in the area. A team of 65 people is engaged in the rescue mission. So far, 10 people have been rescued, operation is underway to rescue those trapped. We have made a demand for Army helicopter. Rescued persons have been admitted to ITBP hospital in Mana."

NDRF Director General (DG) Piyush Anand told PTI that apart from these teams, another four units have been kept on standby.

"The rescue mission has been activated and the Union home minister (Amit Shah) has directed for a quick response. Four NDRF teams are being rushed (to the spot)," he said.

SDRF Inspector General of Police said that a team of the SDRF has left from Joshimath but due to road blockage in Lambagad, the process of opening the route by contacting the Army is underway.

According to the officials, a major portion of the road is blocked at Lambagar, where the State Disaster Response Forces are stuck.

The government has sent out an alert to the residents living in the area as heavy snowfall continues in Chamoli. The construction sites near the glacier have suffered significant damage.

At around 07:15 am on 28 February 2025, a BRO Labour Camp, located between Mana and Badrinath, was struck by an avalanche, burying 57 workers inside eight containers and one shed. The Indian Army’s swift response teams, comprising more than 100 personnel from the Ibex Brigade, were immediately mobilised, comprising doctors, ambulances, and plant equipment. By 11:50 am, the teams had located five containers and successfully rescued 10 individuals, all alive. Of the 10 rescued, four personnel are reported to be in critical condition.

Search operations are ongoing for the remaining three containers, with the aim of rescuing the trapped individuals.

Heavy snowfall continues in the region, and GREF is working on clearing the road between Joshimath and Mana. Additional medical resources from Joshimath are being mobilised to Mana to assist with the rescue and medical aid.

BRO Executive Engineer CR Meena said that the rescue operations is being hampered due to heavy snowfall and the team is facing

difficulties. "Three to four ambulances have also been sent, but due to heavy snowfall, the rescue team is facing difficulties in reaching there," BRO Executive Engineer said.

57 of the BRO workers were trapped in the avalanche, out of which 16 workers have been rescued. All preparations have been made. We are taking help from the ITBP. The district administration and all others are in touch, and we are trying to rescue all as soon as possible," Chief Minister Dhami told reporters.