The massive rescue operation near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district concluded on Sunday after the last missing worker’s body was recovered, taking the total death toll in the avalanche to eight.
The avalanche struck on February 28, trapping several Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers. Search and rescue efforts, led by the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Indian Air Force (IAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), were carried out despite challenging weather conditions.
Final Body Recovered, Rescue Operations End
Lt Col Manish Shrivastava, PRO (Defence) Dehradun, confirmed the end of rescue operations, stating, “The last missing person’s body has been found. All 54 persons have been rescued or recovered.”
Key Developments in the Avalanche Rescue
- Rescue Operations Conclude: With the final recovery, authorities confirmed the rescue and retrieval of all trapped individuals.
- CM Dhami’s Review: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the Disaster Control Room at IT Park, Dehradun, for the second consecutive day to monitor rescue efforts.
- Survivor’s Account: Vijay Pandey, one of the rescued workers, recounted the terrifying ordeal. “We were in the container when the avalanche hit, sweeping it away. We found ourselves buried in the snow,” he told ANI. Out of the nine people in the container, four remain under medical care.
- Advanced Technology Deployed: The IAF airlifted a drone-based intelligent buried object detection system for the search mission. Additionally, a Victim Locating Camera (V.L.C.) and Thermal Image Camera were used to detect trapped individuals.
- Aerial Rescue Efforts: The Uttarakhand government deployed an extensive aerial rescue operation, including one MI-17 helicopter, three Cheetah helicopters, two state helicopters, and an AIIMS Rishikesh air ambulance. Additional helicopters were on standby if needed.
- Heavy Snowfall Hampers Efforts: The region witnessed severe snowfall, with accumulations reaching 6-7 feet in Badrinath, blocking multiple roads.
- Emergency Operations at Army Helipad: The Army prepared its helipad near Mana base camp for emergency evacuations.
- Senior Officials Assess Situation: Major General Prem Raj and Brigadier Harish Sethi from Uttarakhand Sub Area visited the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) to assess military-led rescue operations, assuring full support.
- Injured Workers Receiving Treatment: Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari stated that 24 rescued BRO workers are under treatment in Joshimath, while a critically injured worker was airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh due to a spinal injury.
The tragedy highlights the persistent risks faced by workers in the Himalayan region, where avalanches and extreme weather conditions pose severe threats. Authorities have assured that further safety measures will be reviewed to prevent such incidents in the future.
Sources By Agencies
