Daijiworld Media Network – Chamoli

Chamoli, Mar 2: The 60-hour-long rescue operation at the avalanche-hit Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp in Mana village, Chamoli district, concluded on Sunday with the recovery of the last four trapped bodies, taking the death toll to eight.

A total of 54 labourers were reported missing after the avalanche struck on Friday. While 46 workers were successfully rescued, eight lost their lives, officials confirmed.

The Indian Army, BRO, and disaster response teams worked tirelessly to locate the missing labourers, using helicopters, sniffer dogs, and thermal imaging technology. Officials expedited the rescue efforts due to worsening weather conditions expected on Monday.

Defence PRO Lt Col Manish Shrivastava confirmed that the operation, termed the Mana Village Rescue, has officially ended.

"After an intense 60-hour operation, the final missing worker has been located. Despite challenging conditions, our teams worked relentlessly to ensure maximum lives were saved," he stated.

The 46 rescued workers were transported to a military hospital in Joshimath. Army doctors have confirmed that three of them remain in critical condition, while two have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh for advanced medical care.

"Our priority was to stabilize the injured and provide life-saving interventions. Some critical cases have been airlifted to AIIMS," said Lt Col DS Maldhya.

Officials have identified the deceased workers, including Anil Kumar (21) from Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar, Ashok (28) from Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur, and Harmesh from Una, Himachal Pradesh.

One worker, Arvind (43) from Dehradun’s Clement Town area, remains unaccounted for, with efforts ongoing to locate him.

To facilitate the operation, the Indian Army and Air Force deployed eight helicopters, including five Army choppers, two IAF helicopters, and a civilian aircraft.

Additionally, a drone-based system capable of detecting buried objects was flown into Joshimath, along with UAVs, five quadcopters, and three mini UAVs to enhance search operations.

The labourers were part of a BRO team working on a strategic infrastructure project in Mana, the last Indian village before the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

The 20-km stretch between Joshimath and Mana remains covered in heavy snow, posing further challenges.

Indian Army medical teams conducted on-site life-saving surgeries, while helicopters continued round-the-clock evacuation missions from the Joshimath helipad.

As the rescue operations officially conclude, authorities now shift their focus to recovery and support for affected families, ensuring those injured receive the best possible care.