57 laborers were buried beneath snow and rubble after an avalanche struck a Border Roads Organization (BRO) labor camp in the Mana area of Joshimath, Uttarakhand, on the morning of February 28, 2025. The workers were trapped inside eight containers and one shed when the camp, which is situated between Mana and Badrinath, was struck at approximately 7:15 a.m.
“Avalanche Hits BRO Camp in Uttarakhand; Army Rescues 10”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed an avalanche in Joshimath’s Mana area, affecting the BRO’s GREF camp. He assured full government support and discussed the situation with Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami. The Indian Army’s Ibex Brigade, with over 100 personnel, swiftly launched rescue operations. By 11:50 a.m., ten people were rescued, though four remain in critical condition and were rushed to the hospital.
Rescue crews are committed to finding and saving the stranded people, and search efforts are still underway for the last three containers. Although efforts have been hindered by the region’s heavy snowfall, the BRO is striving to clear the route between Joshimath and Mana so that rescue crews and medical supplies may move freely. Joshimath’s additional medical assistance is being called upon to help with the procedure.
To assess the status of the rescue effort, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called an urgent meeting with senior officials in the State Disaster Control Room. In order to coordinate efforts and guarantee that all required resources are deployed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with the directors general of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
