Massive Avalanche Hits Uttarakhand, Dozens of Workers Missing

At least 41 road workers remain trapped following a significant avalanche in Uttarakhand, India, while rescue efforts are underway amid challenging conditions.

A powerful avalanche swept through a border area in Uttarakhand, India, reportedly trapping 41 road workers from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). As per police spokesperson IG Nilesh Anand Bharne, 16 workers have been successfully rescued and moved to an army camp, but the fate of the remaining individuals remains unclear.

The sudden avalanche struck the workers’ camp in Mana, located near the Tibetan border, around midday. Sandeep Tiwari, a senior district official, confirmed that there had been no confirmed reports of fatalities yet, although concerns are mounting.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to social media platform X, affirming that the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, alongside the BRO and various other teams, are actively engaged in the rescue operations. The situation is proving difficult, as emergency services are facing hazardous conditions exacerbated by ongoing harsh weather.

Colonel Ankur Mahajan of the BRO, speaking to the Hindustan Times, indicated that those rescued are receiving medical attention, though the severity of their injuries has not been determined. Gaurav Kunwar, formerly a village council member from Mana, described the locality as mainly inhabited by transient workers during the winter months, with no permanent residents.

Reports suggest that the avalanche occurred following two days of heavy rainfall in the area, prompting earlier warnings from the India Meteorological Department regarding upcoming severe weather conditions, including snow and rain in Uttarakhand and nearby regions like Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. An orange alert has been issued for snowfall across several districts in these states, escalating the urgency for rescue teams on the ground.