Badrinath Avalanche Highlights: Body of last missing worker recovered; death toll reaches 8

Rescuers have pulled 50 workers from the snow-covered remains of a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp in Mana village, but four of them succumbed to their injuries on Saturday. Efforts continue to locate the remaining five trapped workers as teams race against time amid challenging weather conditions.

The avalanche struck between Mana and Badrinath around 5:30–6:00 a.m. on Friday, burying 55 workers inside eight containers and a shed, according to the Army. By Friday night, 33 workers had been rescued, but worsening weather forced authorities to halt operations overnight.

With improved conditions on Saturday morning, Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel resumed the rescue effort, said District Disaster Management Officer N.K. Joshi. Six helicopters—including three from Army Aviation, two from the Indian Air Force, and one civilian aircraft hired by the Army—were deployed for evacuations, an Army spokesperson confirmed.

“Fifty labourers have been rescued, but unfortunately, four succumbed to their injuries. The search for the remaining five is ongoing,” the spokesperson said, adding that the injured were being prioritized for evacuation. Two critically injured workers have been transported to AIIMS-Rishikesh for advanced treatment.

Top Army officials, including Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, GOC-in-C Central Command, and Lt Gen D.G. Mishra, GOC Uttar Bharat Area, have reached the avalanche site to oversee rescue efforts. Lt Gen Sengupta noted that road access remains impossible due to heavy snow, with the Badrinath-Joshimath highway blocked at 15-20 locations.

Of the eight containers at the BRO camp, five have been located, while three remain buried under snow. Most of the rescued workers were found inside the traced containers.

Mana, situated three kilometers from Badrinath, is the last Indian village before the Tibet border at an altitude of 3,200 meters.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the disaster site and directed officials to expedite rescue efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Dhami, assuring full central support.

Dhami also interacted with an injured worker being airlifted to Jyotirmath for treatment. In a post on X, he said, “Conducted an aerial survey of the avalanche-hit area near Mana in Chamoli district and reviewed the situation.”