A massive avalanche struck Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday. At least 42 workers engaged in road construction near Mana village, close to the India-Tibet border, are trapped under the snow. According to reports, 57 workers were present at the site when the avalanche occurred. While 15 have been rescued and rushed to an army camp in critical condition, efforts are underway to locate the remaining trapped workers. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Uttarak hand and other hilly regions, warning of extremely heavy snowfall – up to 20 cm – until late Friday night. The avalanche struck around 7.15 a.m. near a BRO camp, approximately 3 km ahead of Badrinath Dham, where workers were clearing snow for army movement. The Army’s swift response teams, including over 100 personnel from the Ibex Brigade, doctors, ambulances, and heavy equipment, were immediately mobilized. An army official stated that ongoing snowfall and intermittent smaller avalanches are slowing rescue efforts, which are being conducted with extreme caution.
