So far, 47 out of 55 trapped labourers have been rescued, with 33 evacuated by Friday night. The operation, initially hampered by rain and snowfall, resumed on Saturday morning with Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel leading the search. Helicopters have also joined the rescue mission.
According to Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari, three critically injured labourers rescued on Friday were airlifted to Jyotirmath Army Hospital for advanced medical care.
With clear weather conditions, officials are hopeful for faster rescue progress as efforts continue to locate the remaining trapped workers.
Read more: In pics | Uttarakhand Avalanche: Army, NDRF engaged in rescue operations amid heavy snowfall
Uttarakhand | 14 civilians have been rescued and evacuted from avalanche site by Indian Army this morning. Search and rescue operations continuing for more than 24 hours. With slight respite in the weather, three injured personnel evacuated from Mana to Joshimath for critical… pic.twitter.com/46gJQYxq8B
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2025
Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer NK Joshi confirmed that both private and Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters are on standby to support the ongoing efforts. “It is a little cloudy at the moment, but once the weather becomes favourable, the helicopters will be pressed into service,” he said. The nearby Gauchar airstrip has been prepared to facilitate air support.
Personnel from the Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), stationed in Mana, have resumed their rescue efforts. Officials are optimistic that improved weather conditions will aid the search for the missing 8 labourers, who have now been trapped for over 24 hours.
Read more: Badrinath glacier bursts after heavy snowfall, 16 workers rescued, 41 still missing
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is expected to visit the site of the incident.
According to a list released by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, the missing labourers hail from multiple states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. However, for 10 of the trapped workers, their state of origin has not been verified.
#WATCH | Chamoli (Uttarakhand) avalanche | DM Chamoli, Sandeep Tiwari says, “4 choppers are being used in rescue operation through Army. Of the total 55 people, 47 have been rescued from Mana. We have brought seven people to Joshimath Hospital, and they are under treatment. They… pic.twitter.com/xxpJYyOmKw
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2025
Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman stated on Friday that the situation remains complex, with approximately seven feet of snow covering the affected area. “More than 65 personnel are engaged in the rescue operations,” he added.
Mana, situated 3 km from Badrinath, is the last village before the Tibet border and stands at an altitude of 3,200 metres.
(With inputs from agencies)
