Avalanche in Chamoli: 55 Workers Trapped, 4 Dead, Search for Missing Continues

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): On Friday morning, a powerful snowstorm struck near Mana village in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, trapping 55 workers engaged in road construction. So far, 50 workers have been rescued, but unfortunately, four have lost their lives. The search for the remaining five missing workers continues, with rescue operations ongoing since Saturday morning.

The army, along with rescue workers, is focused on locating the missing workers, particularly searching for three containers where the workers had been staying. While five containers have been found, three remain buried under six feet of snow. The rescue teams are also using sniffer dogs to aid in the search. ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) personnel are actively involved in the operations.

The Indian Air Force has joined the efforts, deploying drone-based Intelligent Buried Object Detection Systems, GPS radar, ground penetration radar, and sniffer dogs to locate the workers. Due to the blocked routes caused by the avalanche, helicopters are being used in the operation, with six helicopters currently deployed.

On Saturday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the affected area in Mana and instructed authorities to accelerate the rescue work. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also been closely monitoring the situation and the relief operations.

Among the trapped workers, 11 are from Uttar Pradesh, including from Ballia and Mathura. The specific breakdown of workers from different states is being examined as part of ongoing efforts to identify and assist the affected individuals.