24 missing, 16 rescued after avalanche buries BRO workers in Uttarakhand, India
At least 24 workers are missing, and 16 have been rescued after a massive avalanche buried a BRO project site near Mana village in the Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, on February 28, 2025.
Image credit: ITBP
An avalanche buried a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) project site near Mana village in the Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, during the early morning hours of February 28, 2025. 16 workers were rescued, with four in critical condition, and 24 are still missing.
The avalanche buried several containers where workers were sleeping, according to Uttarakhand Disaster Response Officer Nandkishore Joshi. The victims include construction workers, JCB operators, and other machine operators employed at the BRO construction site, which has been active for the past two years. Four of the rescued workers are in critical condition.
Rescuers have located five containers, and search operations are still underway for the remaining three containers.
The exact status of the remaining trapped individuals remains unknown, and rescuers are racing against time to locate them. The extreme cold and continuous precipitation pose additional risks to those still trapped.
Rescue operations, led by the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), are ongoing despite severe weather conditions. Heavy snowfall has hampered efforts, with helicopters unable to operate and ground teams struggling through treacherous terrain.
Army Brigade Commander Mandeep Dhillon confirmed that a dedicated rescue team, comprising seven officers, 17 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 150 personnel from the IBEX Brigade, was deployed at 08:00 LT (02:30 UTC). The team is equipped with specialized medical personnel and engineering equipment to aid the recovery of those trapped.
The 23rd Battalion of the ITBP, consisting of 90 personnel stationed in Mana, has been mobilized for assistance. Efforts have been repeatedly halted because of continuous snowfall, making the terrain treacherous for rescuers. Helicopter assistance has been ruled out because of poor visibility and heavy snow accumulation.
The injured workers have been admitted to an Army hospital in Mana, where medical teams are treating injuries, including severe head trauma. The Uttarakhand government has issued two helpline numbers for families seeking updates on the trapped workers, as communication lines remain disrupted because of the extreme weather.
“Sad news was received about many workers being buried under an avalanche during the construction work being carried out by the BRO near Mana village in the Chamoli district. Relief and rescue operations are being carried out by ITBP, BRO, and other rescue teams,” said Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke with the Chief Minister, receiving updates on the rescue operations, while Home Minister Amit Shah assured the state government of all necessary support in evacuation efforts. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed four teams, and Director General Piyush Anand confirmed that 16 people have been successfully evacuated so far.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an avalanche warning on February 27 for areas above 2 400 m (7 870 feet), including Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar districts. The warning was based on predictions of isolated heavy snowfall in locations above 3 500 m (11 480 feet).
The Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) in Chandigarh had also issued a 24-hour avalanche warning at 11:30 UTC on February 27.
Vinod Suman, Uttarakhand’s Disaster Management Secretary, noted that the situation remains difficult because of ongoing snowfall, which has complicated rescue efforts.
“A team of 65 people is engaged in the rescue mission,” he said.
The Uttarakhand state administration and central agencies continue to monitor the situation, with additional resources on standby in case of further deterioration in weather conditions. Rescue teams remain focused on recovering all missing individuals despite the challenging conditions posed by heavy snowfall and rough terrain.
References:
1 Uttarakhand avalanche highlights: Snowfall hurdles rescue operation, 24 workers missing – THE HINDU – March 1, 2025
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules.