Rescue operations resumed on Saturday morning in Mana village, Chamoli district, where 22 labourers remain trapped beneath several feet of snow following an avalanche.
The clearing weather has raised hopes of intensified efforts, with helicopters on standby to assist if conditions allow.
On Friday, an avalanche buried a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp between Mana and Badrinath, trapping 55 labourers.
Thirty-three of them have been rescued, while efforts continue to locate the remaining 22. Heavy rain and snowfall forced a temporary suspension of search operations on Friday night.
State Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman confirmed the figures, stating, "33 workers have been rescued. Two of the 57 workers had gone on leave, so there were only 55 workers there."
With improved visibility, rescue teams, including personnel from the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), have resumed their efforts.
Also read: Avalanche buries BRO camp in U'khand, 32 recued, 25 trapped
"It is a little cloudy at the moment, but once the weather becomes favourable, helicopters will be pressed into service," Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer N K Joshi stated. The nearest airstrip at Gauchar has been prepared for the purpose.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is continuously reviewing the ongoing rescue operations from his residence and remains in constant touch with officials at the site.
The Uttarakhand government has also issued helpline numbers for those seeking assistance or information regarding the avalanche.
These are: Mobile No: 8218867005, 9058441404; Telephone No: 0135 2664315; Toll-Free No: 1070.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister Dhami and assured him that the central government is prioritising the safe evacuation of those trapped.
"Spoke to Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Dhami ji, DG ITBP, and DG NDRF regarding the glacier burst in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Our priority is to safely evacuate the people trapped in the accident," he stated.
According to a list released by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, the trapped labourers hail from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the list includes 10 names without specifying their states of origin.
Disaster Management Secretary Suman described the task as particularly arduous due to nearly seven feet of snow covering the site. More than 65 personnel are actively engaged in the rescue operations, he added.
Mana, located at an altitude of 3,200 metres and three kilometres from Badrinath, is the last village on the India-Tibet border. Its remote location and challenging terrain have complicated relief efforts, making aerial support crucial.
With 22 labourers still unaccounted for and the clock ticking, rescuers are battling against time and the elements in a determined effort to bring them to safety.
Follow us
