In response to a catastrophic avalanche that struck the Mana region in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on February 28, 2025, senior military officials have been actively overseeing and coordinating the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Central Command, and Lieutenant General D.G. Misra, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Uttar Bharat Area, visited the avalanche site to assess the situation and ensure the effectiveness of rescue efforts.
The avalanche buried a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp, trapping 55 workers engaged in highway construction projects near the Mana Pass, close to the Tibet border. Rescue teams have successfully extricated 50 workers; however, four have succumbed to their injuries, and efforts continue to locate the remaining five individuals.
Specialized equipment, including reconnaissance radars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), quadcopters, and avalanche rescue dogs, have been deployed to expedite the search for survivors. Helicopters are operating continuously to transport essential equipment and evacuate the injured to medical facilities.
Lieutenant General Sengupta assured that the Indian Army, in collaboration with various agencies, is fully equipped with the necessary resources to conduct swift and effective rescue operations. He emphasized the Army’s commitment to integrating new-generation equipment into their tactics, techniques, and procedures to enhance operational effectiveness in such challenging terrains.
The ecologically sensitive Himalayan region is prone to avalanches and flash floods, exacerbated by global warming. In 2022, 27 trainee mountaineers lost their lives in an avalanche in Uttarakhand, and a glacier burst in 2021 resulted in over 200 fatalities.
The ongoing rescue operations in Mana highlight the relentless efforts of the Indian Army and associated agencies to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and ensure the safety of those affected.
