Mana, March 1 – Four civilian workers remain trapped under ice as rescue operations continued for the second day following an avalanche at a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) worksite in Mana village, Uttarakhand.
Rescue Efforts Amid Harsh Weather
- 17 workers rescued, but four succumbed to injuries.
- The avalanche struck on Friday, burying BRO workers in their sleep.
- Heavy snowfall at 10,000 feet has made access to the site extremely difficult.
- Army & Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are leading the rescue, with helicopters deployed.
- Drones & ground-penetrating radar will be used to locate the missing workers inside three buried containers.
Survivors & Challenges
- 57 workers were present at the site; two were on leave.
- 22 workers reportedly fled toward Badrinath.
- The road to Mana is blocked by five feet of snow, cutting off ground access.
- More snowfall & rainfall are forecasted, further complicating rescue efforts.
Government Response
- Lt. Gen. Anindya Sen Gupta (Army’s Central Command Chief) and Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami have arrived at the site.
- CM Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the affected area on Saturday.
- At least eight rescued workers are critically injured.
Rescue teams are racing against time to locate the missing workers before worsening weather conditions hinder further efforts.