A devastating avalanche has hit a remote camp in the Mana area of Uttarakhand, northern India, trapping at least 41 road workers. Officials reported that 16 of the workers have been successfully rescued and moved to a nearby army encampment. The avalanche struck the workers' camp, part of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), in the mountainous region which borders Tibet.
Uttarakhand officials, including police spokesperson IG Nilesh Anand Bharne, indicated that while rescue operations are underway, it is unclear if there are any fatalities. Sandeep Tiwari, a senior district official, confirmed that emergency response teams, comprising the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and BRO, have been deployed to the scene.
Nightmarish weather conditions including heavy rainfall have complicated the rescue missions with ambulances and emergency teams on standby. Colonel Ankur Mahajan from BRO stated they are treating the rescued individuals, but their injuries remain uncertain. Local villagers share that the area is temporary for work crews during winter, and conditions have been dangerous recently.
Earlier today, meteorologists issued warnings for heavy snowfall and rain in several northern states, raising concerns about additional avalanches. Orange alerts have been placed across districts in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, emphasizing the serious weather threats in the region.
