Uttarakhand avalanche: Search operation resumes to trace 4 missing labourers

NEW DELHI: The rescue mission for four missing workers at an avalanche-affected BRO camp in Mana village, Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, continued on Sunday using sniffer dogs and helicopters.
According to district magistrate Sandeep Tiwari, clear weather conditions and the anticipated arrival of a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system from Delhi should accelerate the search efforts.

An Mi-17 helicopter remains stationed in Dehradun, ready to transport the GPR system to the affected area.
On Friday, the avalanche struck the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp situated between Mana and Badrinath, where 54 workers were sheltered in eight containers and a shed, as confirmed by the Army.
The initial count of affected labourers has been adjusted from 55 to 54, as one worker from Himachal Pradesh, who had taken unauthorised leave, was found safe at home.

By Friday, rescue teams had retrieved 50 workers from the snow, with four casualties reported.
The current focus remains on locating the missing workers and evacuating those still stranded, stated Tiwari.
SDRF and NDRF teams equipped with sniffer dogs have reached the site to assist with search and rescue operations.
Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, GOC-in C, Central Command, and Lt Gen D G Mishra, GOC, Uttar Bharat, are present at the site overseeing rescue efforts.

The operation involves six helicopters: three from the Indian Army Aviation Corps, two from the IAF, and one civilian helicopter hired by the Army.
Mana, situated three kilometres from Badrinath at an elevation of 3,200 metres, is India's last village along the India-Tibet border.
The four missing labourers are identified as Harmesh Chand from Himachal Pradesh, Ashok from Uttar Pradesh, and Anil Kumar and Arvind Singh from Uttarakhand.
Army officials reported that Saturday's rescue operations primarily relied on Army and IAF helicopters due to snow-blocked roads preventing vehicle access.
The immediate priorities are transferring rescued workers to the Army hospital in Jyotirmath and continuing the search for the missing individuals.
Lt Gen Sengupta indicated that favourable weather conditions would allow deployment of RECCO radars, UAVs, quadcopters and avalanche rescue dogs to locate the missing workers.
He emphasised that weather conditions remain a crucial factor.
Over 200 personnel from various organisations including disaster management authority, ITBP, BRO, NDRF, SDRF, IAF, district administration, health department and fire brigade are participating in the rescue operations.