A powerful avalanche hit near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on February 28, 2025. The disaster trapped at least 57 construction workers who were working on a road-clearing project for the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). So far, 16 workers have been rescued, while 41 remain missing.
Rescue operations are being carried out by the Garhwal 9th Brigade, BRO, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). However, the ongoing snowfall and harsh weather conditions are making it difficult for teams to access the affected area. Blocked roads have further slowed down relief efforts.
Uttarakhand is prone to natural disasters like avalanches, landslides, and glacier bursts. In October 2022, an avalanche on the Draupadi Ka Danda peak claimed the lives of 27 mountaineers from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. Similarly, in February 2021, a glacier burst in Chamoli caused massive flooding, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life.
Experts believe that climate change, deforestation, and unplanned construction are increasing the risk of such disasters. There is an urgent need to implement stricter safety measures to minimize damage and protect lives.
Rescue teams continue to search for the missing workers, despite the difficult conditions. More updates are expected as the situation unfolds.
