Daijiworld Media Network - Dehradun

Dehradun, Mar 2: A devastating avalanche near Mana in Uttarakhand buried a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) construction site under thick snow, leaving four workers dead and 50 others rescued.

The disaster struck early Saturday morning, catching workers off guard. Gopal Joshi, a worker from Chamoli, recalled stepping out of his container when he saw a massive snow cascade rushing toward them. "I shouted to alert my companions and ran, but the deep snow made escape difficult," he said.

While most managed to flee, some were trapped under the snow. Vipin Kumar from Himachal Pradesh, buried for 15 minutes, described his survival as a "second birth." Injured workers, many with back, head, and limb injuries, were airlifted to the Army’s Jyotirmath hospital, while two critically wounded were shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh.

The workers, employed by Vijay Infra Construction Company under GREF, were living in roadside containers when the avalanche struck. The incident highlights the harsh conditions faced by laborers working in the high-altitude region during winter.