Massive Avalanche in Uttarakhand Traps 41 Road Workers; Rescue Efforts Underway
TDT | Manama
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At least 41 road workers have been trapped following a massive avalanche that struck a remote border area in Uttarakhand, northern India, officials reported on Friday. The incident occurred at a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp in Mana, a region near the India-Tibet border.
Authorities have confirmed that 16 workers have been rescued and moved to a nearby army camp. Police spokesperson IG Nilesh Anand Bharne provided updates on the situation, stating that search and rescue efforts were ongoing under challenging conditions.
Sandeep Tiwari, a senior district official, told BBC Hindi that there was no immediate confirmation regarding fatalities. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed on social media that rescue operations were being conducted by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), BRO, and other emergency response teams. Ambulances and relief personnel have been dispatched to the affected area.
Colonel Ankur Mahajan, a BRO commander, informed the Hindustan Times that the rescued individuals were receiving medical treatment, though the extent of their injuries remains unclear.
Local sources described the situation as critical. Gaurav Kunwar, a former village council member of Mana, stated that the affected area is not permanently inhabited, with only road workers and military personnel present during winter months. He noted that the region had been experiencing heavy rainfall for two days before the avalanche struck.
Earlier on Friday, the India Meteorological Department had issued warnings about heavy snowfall and rainfall in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. An orange alert was also issued for multiple districts in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the ongoing weather-related risks.
Rescue teams are continuing their efforts despite the treacherous conditions, and authorities remain hopeful for further recoveries.
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