Uttarakhand Avalanche: Four Fatalities, 50 Rescued; CM Dhami Leads Rescue Efforts
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Synopsis
In Uttarakhand, an avalanche in Mana village claimed four lives while fifty workers were rescued through the dedicated efforts of security forces. Chief Minister Dhami is supervising ongoing rescue operations, with advanced technology being deployed to aid in the search for the missing individuals.
Key Takeaways
- Four fatalities reported due to the avalanche in Mana village.
- Fifty workers rescued through coordinated rescue efforts.
- Advanced technology, including GPR, is being utilized in search operations.
- Continuous updates provided by Chief Minister Dhami on rescue status.
- Rescue teams face challenging weather conditions but remain committed.
New Delhi, March 2 (NationPress) Thanks to the swift, coordinated actions of the security forces, including the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fifty workers were successfully rescued from the avalanche that hit Mana village in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, on Friday night, as reported by an official on Saturday. Regrettably, four individuals lost their lives in the incident.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were closely monitoring the rescue operations led by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who provided regular instructions throughout the process.
Out of the 55 workers caught in the avalanche near Mana, 50 have been rescued. Among the five initially unaccounted for, one from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, has returned home safely. Rescue teams are tirelessly searching for the remaining four missing workers.
The army’s sniffer dogs are also being utilized in these efforts.
Chief Minister Dhami received the latest updates regarding the rescue operations from Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman and Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari late Saturday evening.
He has mandated a thorough search and rescue operation for the missing workers. Sadly, reports confirmed that four workers have perished due to the avalanche.
Following the Chief Minister's directives, rescue and relief operations proceeded late into Saturday evening in search of the missing individuals. The Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, and SDRF are conducting intensive search missions.
On Sunday, a search operation employing ground penetrating radar (GPR) will commence, alongside the use of thermal imaging and victim location cameras to assist in the search.
According to Vinod Kumar Suman, on Saturday, 24 workers were transported from the army hospital in Mana to Joshimath for treatment. Among them, two are in critical condition and have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh.
One patient has been admitted to AIIMS, while arrangements are underway for the second patient. Unfortunately, one worker has been reported deceased in Joshimath. Additionally, 26 workers were rescued from Badrinath/Mana; among them, 23 are safe, while three tragically did not survive.
The Chamoli District Magistrate has instructed representatives of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) to reach out to the families of the missing workers for information. When BRO contacted the family of Sunil Kumar in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, it was confirmed that he returned home safely.
Currently, four workers are still unaccounted for, and both the state and central governments have directed rescue teams to find them. By late Saturday evening, relief teams discovered all eight containers.
Upon inspection, no workers were found inside. Due to the ongoing rescue operations, Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman has requested the Director of Jolly Grant Airport to extend operational hours to 8:30 PM to facilitate the arrival of the GPR dispatched from Delhi.
On Friday morning, between 5:30 and 6 AM, a significant avalanche struck a worker camp located between Mana and Badrinath, burying 55 workers alive within eight containers and a shed. These workers were associated with the Border Roads Organization (BRO) in the elevated regions of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district.
The Indian military and paramilitary forces responded promptly to rescue the trapped workers, initiating operations immediately. By Friday evening, they had successfully rescued 33 individuals from the avalanche's icy grasp.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took command of the situation, mobilizing all available resources and meticulously overseeing the rescue operations.
By Friday evening, he was present at the State Emergency Operations Center of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) to ensure the smooth execution of relief measures.
The rescue mission included various key agencies such as the Army, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF, BRO, Health Department, local administrative bodies, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), and the Indian Air Force. However, adverse weather conditions, including rain and snowfall, temporarily halted these extensive efforts.
On Saturday morning, improved weather conditions enabled the Indian Army and ITBP personnel to resume their challenging task. The District Disaster Management Officer N.K. Joshi led the resumption of the rescue mission. Six helicopters—three from the Indian Army Aviation, two from the Indian Air Force, and one civil helicopter hired by the Army—were deployed in the search for the remaining workers.
The Indian Army also employed a drone-based Intelligent Buried Object Detection system, supplied by the Indian Air Force, to aid in the search and rescue operations in the Mana area of Chamoli.
Military leaders Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta and Lt Gen D G Mishra arrived at the avalanche site to supervise ongoing operations.
However, Lt. Gen Sengupta reported that heavy snow had obstructed the Badrinath-Joshimath highway at numerous points, rendering road travel impossible. The search for the remaining trapped workers continued vigorously. Top priority was given to evacuating the injured workers.
In a post on X, Chief Minister Dhami mentioned that he visited the avalanche-affected area near Mana in Chamoli district to assess the ongoing relief and rescue operations.
He inquired about the well-being of the evacuated workers and received comprehensive updates from military officers and administrative teams engaged in the rescue work. Chief Minister Dhami assured that the government is fully dedicated to providing all necessary assistance to those affected by this crisis, emphasizing that the safety of the workers remains the utmost priority.
The rescue teams encountered harsh conditions, including challenging terrain, heavy snowfall, and relentless rain, but they worked diligently to free the trapped workers. Fortunately, no additional casualties have been reported up to this point.
In response to this disaster, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey and expedited the rescue operations with utmost care. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also communicated with Chief Minister Dhami, pledging unwavering support from the central government to bolster rescue efforts.
The collaboration among various agencies and the utilization of advanced technologies like drones played a pivotal role in the rescue operations.
The collective efforts of the Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF, BRO, Health Department, local administration, UCADA, and the Indian Air Force have instilled hope in the workers and their families.
The commitment of the rescue teams amidst such challenging conditions has been commendable. Despite the dire circumstances, their relentless actions have ensured the safety of many workers and offered hope to those still awaiting rescue.
