Uttarakhand Avalanche Tragedy: Eight Workers Killed, Families Struggle with Loss
A devastating avalanche struck the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) project site in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday, claiming the lives of eight workers. The death toll rose on Sunday after rescuers recovered four more bodies, following the discovery of four others a day earlier.
A total of 54 workers were present at the site when the avalanche buried their container living quarters. While 46 were successfully rescued, the search efforts continued for those missing. Eight helicopters, including five from the Army, two from the Air Force, and one civilian helicopter, evacuated all survivors from Mana Post to the Joshimath Military Hospital.
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reported that 44 rescued workers were admitted to the hospital in stable condition, receiving proper medical care. Two others were transferred to AIIMS Rishikesh, where they are recovering.
High-Tech Rescue Efforts
Lt Colonel Manish Srivastava revealed that advanced equipment was deployed for the search. A drone-based “intelligent buried object detection system” was airlifted from Delhi to Joshimath to aid rescue operations. Additionally, five quadcopters and three mini drones were used to locate the trapped workers.
The eight deceased workers were identified as Mohinder Pal and Harmesh Chand from Himachal Pradesh; Jitender Singh, Manjeet Yadav, Alok Yadav, and Ashok Paswan from Uttar Pradesh; and Anil Kumar and Arvind Kumar Singh from Uttarakhand.
Families’ Heartbreaking Loss
For the families of the victims, the past few days have been filled with uncertainty and despair.
Anil Kumar, a 23-year-old from Sitarganj in Udham Singh Nagar district, had been planning to return home but was called back to the site on February 22. His father, Ishwari Prasad, initially received reports that his son was safe, but later learned the heartbreaking truth. "If only he had returned home as planned," he lamented.
In Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, the family of 42-year-old Mohinder Pal is mourning his loss. A mechanic at the BRO site, Mohinder had promised to return home before the wheat harvest. His brother, Ram Gopal, recalled that he would video call daily to show the snowfall. Their grief-stricken mother and wife have not eaten since receiving the news.
Local authorities in Kangra assured financial assistance for the victims’ families as the community gathered to express condolences. The tragedy has left families shattered, with memories of their loved ones frozen in time.
