The recent avalanche near Mana village in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, rescue teams have successfully saved 33 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers, while efforts continue to locate the remaining 22 individuals still unaccounted for. The avalanche, which occurred on Friday morning, buried a BRO camp situated between Mana and Badrinath, trapping a total of 55 workers under several feet of snow.

State Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman confirmed the rescue figures, noting that two of the initially reported 57 workers were on leave at the time of the incident. He emphasized the challenging conditions at the site, with snow accumulation reaching depths of approximately seven feet. "The situation is critical there because there is 6-7 feet of snow. A team of 65 is carrying out the rescue operation," Suman stated

Since the incident, rescue operations have been underway involving multiple agencies, including the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). However, adverse weather conditions, including continuous snowfall and rain, have hampered progress. The inclement weather also grounded helicopters poised to assist with aerial support. Despite these challenges, ground teams have worked tirelessly to reach the trapped workers.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been closely monitoring the situation from the state's disaster control room. He announced the establishment of a temporary control room in Joshimath to facilitate better coordination of the rescue efforts. "PMO, HMO, and RMO are constantly taking updates on the situation. Indian Air Force helicopters are also kept on standby, and they will get to work as soon as the weather clears," Dhami stated

The Chamoli Police have released a list of the 55 workers affected by the avalanche, hailing from various states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities have also set up helpline numbers to assist families seeking information about their loved ones.

As of Saturday morning, the weather in the region showed signs of improvement, offering a glimmer of hope for the ongoing rescue operations. Private and Indian Air Force helicopters are on standby to provide assistance as soon as conditions permit. The nearest airstrip at Gauchar has been prepared to facilitate aerial support.