Uttarakhand Avalanche Death Toll Reaches 7 As Army Recovers 2 More Bodies, Search On For 1 Missing Worker

Uttarakhand Avalanche: 53 workers trapped in an avalanche near Mana village, Chamoli have been rescued. Total three bodies were recovered on Sunday, bringing the confirmed deaths to seven.

Rescue operation is underway after an avalanche hit the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp between Mana and Badrinath on Friday, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. | Army personnel during rescue work on Sunday, March 3, 2025.

Source : PTI

Uttarakhand Avalanche: The Army on Sunday recovered two more bodies from the snow at the site of the avalanche that struck a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. The search operation is ongoing to locate the last remaining worker who is still missing.  With a total of three bodies recovered today, the total confirmed deaths have risen to seven.

According to PRO (Defence) Dehradun, 53 out of the 54 workers who were trapped under the snow following the February 28 morning avalanche have been rescued. Rescue teams deployed thermal imaging cameras and helicopters as part of their efforts, which resumed on Sunday morning after being halted due to snowfall on Saturday evening.  

Providing an update on the operation, Lt. Col. Manish Shrivastava, PRO (Defence) Dehradun told news agency ANI, "...Three bodies were recovered today and brought to Mana and now sent to Joshimath... We hope we will rescue the remaining one soon."

He also said that one of the survivors helped the officials earmark a search point and added, “53 out of 54 workers have been rescued now. One person is still missing, and we are hopeful that he will be recovered by the Army soon.”  

#WATCH | Mana (Chamoli) avalanche incident | In Dehradun, PRO Defence Lt Colonel Manish Shrivastava says, "...Three bodies were recovered today and brought to Mana and now sent to Joshimath... We hope we will rescue the remaining one soon." pic.twitter.com/tCwFJwfwZP

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2025

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the search for the missing worker is ongoing, with multiple agencies—including the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Indian Air Force (IAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)—working together. He noted that authorities are using ground-penetrating radar, thermal imaging cameras, and victim-locating cameras to assist in the operation.  

The Chief Minister also highlighted concerns about further avalanches, stating that while weather conditions in the area are improving, work in high-altitude areas has been temporarily halted as a precautionary measure.  

Meanwhile, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed satisfaction with the rescue operation saying, "I can say with great satisfaction that most of the people have been rescued and the search for the rest is ongoing... Uttarakhand is a disaster-prone state; landslides are a challenge here. But the government here has made good arrangements to tackle these incidents."

#WATCH | Haridwar, Uttarakhand | On the Mana (Chamoli) avalanche incident, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says, "I can say with great satisfaction that most of the people have been rescued and the search for the rest is ongoing... Uttarakhand is a disaster-prone state;… pic.twitter.com/uQBlc51A2o

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2025

Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari earlier clarified that the total number of trapped workers was initially reported as 55, but one of them was later found to be on unauthorised leave and safe at home, reducing the total to 54. “Yesterday, doctors confirmed four deaths,” he added.  

The Indian Air Force (IAF) reported that a Mi-17 helicopter had airlifted a drone-based Intelligent Buried Object Detection system for search operations. IAF Cheetah helicopters have also been actively involved in the rescue efforts since Saturday, ANI reported.  

3 In Critical Condition As Injured Workers Undergo Treatment At AIIMS Rishikesh & Joshimath Army Hospital

BRO workers injured in the avalanche are being airlifted for treatment at Joshimath Army Hospital, while some critically injured patients have been sent to AIIMS Rishikesh.  

Speaking about the situation at AIIMS Rishikesh, PRO Sandeep Singh said, “Five people were scheduled to be brought here, but later, we came to know that four would be brought here. One injured has been brought here, and he has a spinal injury. He is being examined. His spine surgery will perhaps be done today. His legs are not functioning right now… The team is observing him… Another injured is also scheduled to be airlifted here today… He has suffered a pelvic injury. Other patients are being examined at the base hospital.”  

#WATCH | Mana (Chamoli) avalanche, Uttarakhand | Rishikesh: PRO of AIIMS Rishikesh, Sandeep Singh says, "...5 people were scheduled to be brought here but later we came to know that 4 would be brought here. One Ashok Kumar has been brought here and he has spinal injury. He is… pic.twitter.com/FZQsUgi2R8

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2025

Meanwhile, Major Amit Kumar Mishra at the Joshimath Army Hospital provided an update on the condition of those admitted there, stating, “We have 45 patients here. Three are in critical condition—one is bleeding in the liver, and we are trying to manage it by blood transfusion. We are monitoring the situation, but as of now, all are stable.”  

#WATCH | Mana (Chamoli) avalanche incident | At Joshimath Army Hospital, Major Amit Kumar Mishra says, "We have 45 patients here. 3 are in critical condition - one is having bleeding in the liver, and we are trying to manage it by blood transfusion... We are monitoring the… pic.twitter.com/ton99HDUeZ

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2025

Earlier today, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the Disaster Control Room at IT Park, Dehradun, to review the rescue efforts for the second consecutive day.