PrashantNews
Four workers were dead and 17 others were rescued on Saturday as the search operation to find the remaining 5 persons was continuing unabated in the avalanche-hit Mana area in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.
“In the latest reports (till Saturday) it has been confirmed that 50 persons were rescued. Unfortunately four injured persons have been confirmed as fatal casualties,” an army spokesman said in a video.
The four workers died during the medical treatment at different hospitals. The identities of the four dead were not yet known. The state government has also not commented on the death of the four workers till evening.
On Friday, 33 labourers were rescued after the avalanche struck Mana area situated near Badrinath shrine amid the season’s heaviest snowfall. On Saturday, 17 workers were rescued as the weather improved considerably allowing the army to fly helicopters for the rescue operation.
A total of 55 labourers were inside different BRO containers for the road work in the high altitude Mana area when the avalanche hit with a frightening speed from a nearby lofty mountain. Most of the labourers were inside five containers. While three containers have been traced, the search was continuing to locate two more containers.
As soon as the avalanche swept the area on Friday morning, the army’s IBEX Brigade swiftly launched rescue operation despite heavy snowfall and continuing minor avalanches. The Army managed to rescue 10 labourers in the morning itself. Later, 23 more labourers were also found safe, the Army said.
The state government said the Army, ITBP, NDRF and SDRF are engaged in the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held talks with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on the Mana avalanche and assured all assistance from the central government.
On the other hand, Dhami flew to Jyotirmath area in Chamoli district in the morning as he conducted an aerial survey of the avalanche site from a helicopter. Later, Dhami also met some injured workers in an army hospital and held talks with the top officials of the rescue teams.
The Mana avalanche episode came more than a year after 41 workers in Silkayara tunnel in Uttarkashi district were safely brought out on November 29, 2023 after remaining trapped for 17 days.