March 1st 2025.
The chief minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, paid a visit to the disaster control room on Friday evening to assess the situation following the avalanche that trapped 52 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers. With a sense of urgency, he directed officials to speed up the rescue operation in the state.
From the very beginning, CM Dhami has been closely monitoring and reviewing the ongoing efforts, reaffirming the state government's commitment to ensuring the safety and support of all affected individuals. In order to ensure a successful rescue mission, he stressed the need for all agencies to work together on a war footing. He also assured that the stranded workers would be evacuated as soon as possible.
He specifically urged the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the Army to collaborate efficiently in clearing the snow and rescuing the trapped workers. In addition, he announced the establishment of a temporary control room in Joshimath to facilitate better monitoring of the ongoing rescue operations.
Speaking to reporters, CM Dhami revealed that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Home Ministry (HMO), and the Resident Magistrate's Office (RMO) were constantly taking updates on the situation. He also mentioned that Indian Air Force helicopters were kept on standby and would be deployed as soon as the weather cleared. Some rescue teams were also making their way to the site by road. The CM expressed his hope for the successful rescue of all the trapped workers and reassured that a temporary control room would be set up in Joshimath.
As the trapped workers belonged to various states, the state government had set up a helpline to assist their families. CM Dhami shared that they were praying for the safety of all those trapped. Vinod Kumar Suman, the disaster management secretary of Uttarakhand, reported that 33 workers had been rescued so far, while 22 were still unaccounted for due to the severe weather conditions.
In a correction to earlier reports, Suman clarified that two of the initially reported 57 trapped workers were actually on leave, bringing the actual number of those caught in the avalanche at the BRO camp to 55. Of these, 33 have been rescued, while efforts continue to locate the remaining 22. The list released by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority revealed that the trapped workers belonged to states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. However, the list did not specify the home states of the remaining 10 labourers.
Suman acknowledged the difficulties posed by the deep snow, which was nearly seven feet high near the avalanche site. Despite the challenges, he mentioned that more than 65 personnel were actively involved in the rescue efforts. The situation remains critical, but the collective efforts of all involved agencies give hope for a successful rescue mission.
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