Sun Mar 02 15:00:42 UTC 2025: ## Uttarakhand Avalanche Death Toll Rises to Eight

**CHAMOLI, Uttarakhand –** The death toll from a devastating avalanche near the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand has risen to eight, after rescue workers recovered the bodies of four missing workers on Sunday. The avalanche struck a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) labour site near Mana village on Friday, burying 54 workers in containers and a shed.

While 50 workers were initially feared trapped, a massive rescue operation involving hundreds of personnel from the Army, Air Force, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF, and local authorities successfully rescued 40 workers by Saturday night. Four more succumbed to injuries during treatment. The challenging high-altitude rescue, hampered by heavy rain and snowfall and freezing temperatures (down to -12°C), utilized helicopters, specialized RECCO radars, drones, and avalanche rescue dogs.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the site and assured continued efforts to locate any remaining missing workers. He emphasized the support received from the central government, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, describing a sudden deluge of snow that engulfed their temporary shelters. One worker, Manoj Bhandari, described waking to a “mountain of snow” and fleeing for safety. Another, Gopal Joshi, stated that the avalanche occurred rapidly around 6 am.

The search for any remaining missing workers continues.

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