Badrinath avalanche: Rescue workers brave snow, low visibility to pull out trapped people

On the morning of February 27, 2025, a glacier burst near Badrinath Dham in Chamoli district triggered a massive avalanche that struck the nearby Mana village. The avalanche buried several workers under several feet of snow, trapping 57 workers who were part of a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) construction project.

A catastrophic glacier burst near Badrinath Dham triggered a massive avalanche, burying workers engaged in a construction project in Mana village, Chamoli district in Uttarakhand.

Mana village, situated at a high altitude in the Garhwal region, is surrounded by rugged mountains, which makes the area vulnerable to avalanches, particularly during winter months. The terrain is difficult to navigate, further complicating the rescue operation.

The workers trapped under the avalanche were employed under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a key body responsible for maintaining road infrastructure in challenging areas. The workers were part of a construction project near Mana village, tasked with roadbuilding and snow-clearing activities.

As soon as the avalanche struck, rescue operations were immediately launched with the participation of several agencies including the Garhwal 9th Brigade, BRO, SDRF, NDRF, and ITBP. The rescue teams are working relentlessly to locate and save the trapped workers. So far, 32 workers have been successfully rescued, but efforts continue for the remaining 25.

The rescue mission is being coordinated by multiple agencies, including the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local administration. Specialized teams from the Garhwal 9th Brigade and BRO are at the forefront of the rescue, while additional teams have been dispatched from nearby areas, including Joshimath and Dehradun, to ensure maximum manpower is available.

The area is prone to heavy weather conditions, and due to the avalanche, roads are blocked, and movement is restricted. Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said that the situation is critical there, because there is 6-7 feet of snow.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that efforts are underway to rescue the trapped workers and bring them to safety. Chamoli DM Sandeep Tiwari also reported that authorities are working to rescue the workers, despite the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions.