PrashantNews
More than a year after the Silkyara tunnel episode, 22 labourers were trapped and 33 rescued after an avalanche struck Mana village near Badrinath shrine in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Friday amid the season’s heaviest snowfall.
A total of 55 labourers were inside a BRO camp for the road work in the high altitude Mana village when the avalanche hit in the morning with a frightening speed from a nearby lofty mountain, the state government said on Friday night. Earlier, top administration officials have estimated that a total of 57 workers were inside the BRO camp.
As soon as the avalanche swept the area, the army’s IBEX Brigade swiftly launched rescue operation despite heavy snowfall and continuing minor avalanches. The Army’s central command in a tweet said 10 labourers were rescued. Later, it was revealed that 23 more labourers were found near Badrinath, the Army said.
An official statement quoting the disaster management department said the rescue operation for the remaining 22 missing labourers was continuing.
Chief Secretary Radha Raturi said the Army, ITBP, NDRF and SDRF are engaged in the rescue operation.
Inspector General (IG) SDRF Riddhim Agarwal said all out efforts have been launched for rescuing the labourers. The injured labourers have been sent to army hospital in Mana, Agarwal said.
Earlier Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said 10 labourers were being given medical aid in different hospitals. Dhami expressed concern over the incident and called for speeding up the rescue operation for the missing labourers. The Chief Minister said the rescue operation was continuing despite the inclement weather conditions.
Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were also monitoring the rescue operation from New Delhi and held talks with Dhami.
In one of the most challenging rescue operation, 41 workers in Silkayara tunnel in Uttarkashi district were safely brought out on November 29, 2023 after remaining trapped for 17 days.