March 1, 2025: Rescue teams have saved 14 more labourers following a massive avalanche in Mana village of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, while eight remain trapped under the snow, officials said on Saturday.

A total of 55 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers were caught in the avalanche that struck early on Friday morning. By Friday night, 33 had been rescued, and another 14 were safely evacuated on Saturday morning. However, efforts continue to locate and rescue the remaining workers.

Earlier, officials had reported that 57 workers were trapped, but Uttarakhand's Disaster Management Secretary, Vinod Kumar Suman, later clarified that two of them were on leave, bringing the actual number down to 55.

Rescue teams, including over 65 personnel, are battling harsh conditions, with nearly seven feet of snow blanketing the site. The trapped workers are from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, as per a list released by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority. However, 10 names on the list did not specify their home states.

The avalanche buried the BRO camp between Mana and Badrinath around 5:30 am to 6:00 am on Friday, trapping workers inside eight containers and a shed. Multiple teams, including the Army’s Ibex Brigade, trained for high-altitude rescues, have been deployed with over 100 personnel, doctors, and ambulances. Despite the challenging terrain and extreme cold, rescue efforts continue to bring the remaining labourers to safety.

Authorities remain hopeful and committed to ensuring no worker is left behind.