Rescue Operation Underway After Avalanche Strikes Uttarakhand's Mana Village

An unexpected avalanche occurred in the Mana village of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, near the India-Tibet border, engulfing 57 workers engaged in road construction. This incident took place merely 3 km from the sacred site of Badrinath Dham. The immediate aftermath saw the successful rescue of 10 individuals, who were then taken in critical condition to a nearby army camp for further medical attention. The operation to find and rescue the remaining workers is ongoing.

The workers found themselves in peril close to a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp when the avalanche struck. In response, BRO Executive Engineer CR Meena mentioned that despite the swift dispatch of three to four ambulances to the disaster site, the rescue efforts faced obstacles due to heavy snowfall. This adverse weather condition has hindered the timely reach of emergency assistance to the affected area.

Several rescue and response teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), district administration, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and BRO personnel, are actively involved at the site. Their combined efforts aim to expedite the search and rescue operation, hoping to find survivors among the buried workers.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had previously issued an orange alert for various mountainous regions, including Uttarakhand, warning of extremely heavy rainfall that could reach up to 20 cm until late Friday night. This heavy rain forecasted by the IMD is expected to cause localised flooding, waterlogging in low-lying areas, and the potential closure of underpasses, predominantly in urban settings. Additionally, it may lead to a reduction in visibility during heavy downpours, longer travel times due to traffic disruptions, and minor damage to unpaved roads.

The IMD's alert also emphasized the possibility of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph across Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh. Punjab is expected to experience heavy rainfall of up to 12 cm, while Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are predicted to face very heavy rainfall of up to 20 cm until the late hours of 28th February 2025. Such adverse weather conditions underscore the challenges faced by the rescue teams working tirelessly to save the trapped workers.

In conclusion, the tragic avalanche in Uttarakhand's Mana village has sparked a large-scale rescue operation, with multiple agencies working together to address the catastrophe. As the efforts continue, the focus remains on rescuing the remaining workers and providing necessary medical care to those affected. The incident highlights the risks faced by individuals working in vulnerable mountainous terrains, especially during extreme weather events forecasted by the IMD.