An avalanche struck a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp just 3km away from the Badrinath Dham temple, trapping 57 workers, on the National Highway connecting Mana with Ghastoli on Friday.
Heavy snowfall in the region for the past 48 hours led parts of a glacier to collapse onto a river, causing the avalanche. The workers were employed by a private contractor for road construction.
As the heavy snowfall and incessant rains are disrupting the rescue operations, here's what we know so far about the tragedy:
- According to initial reports, 16 workers have been rescued so far and search is underway for the 41 others.
- The rescued workers are undergoing treatment at the nearby army hospital where some are stated to be in a critical condition.
- The workers were employed by a private firm under a BRO contract.
- The rescue work is being caried out by personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
- Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said that several workers were buried under the avalanche while working on a BRO project near Mana village in Chamoli district.
- Heavy snowfall and incessant rain are disrupting the rescue work.
- Uttarakhand IGP Nilesh Anand Bharne said, “A massive avalanche has occurred near the Border Roads Organisation camp in the border area of Mana, trapping 57 workers engaged in road construction. Out of these, 16 workers have been rescued and sent to the army camp near Mana in critical condition.”
- BRO Executive Engineer CR Meena has also confirmed that 57 workers were present at the site when the avalanche struck.
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