The death toll in the Chamoli avalanche rose to seven on Sunday after the bodies of three more workers were recovered from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp, while rescue efforts continue for the last missing worker. The avalanche struck on Friday, burying 54 workers inside eight containers and a shed between Mana and Badrinath.
Army doctors confirmed that 46 rescued workers have been admitted to the military hospital in Jyotirmath, with one critically injured worker airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. Three remain in critical condition, Lt Col DS Maldhya stated.
To speed up rescue efforts, helicopters, sniffer dogs, thermal imaging, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) are being used, as authorities fear deteriorating weather on Monday could hamper operations. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the State Emergency Operation Centre to oversee the efforts and instructed teams to expedite the search.
The Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF, and other relief forces are working round the clock at the disaster site. The GPR system from Delhi is expected to enhance the search operation, and six helicopters, including three from the Army, two from the Indian Air Force (IAF), and a civilian chopper, have been deployed.
Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed that an Mi-17 helicopter is on standby in Dehradun to transport the GPR system to the avalanche site. Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta and Lt Gen D G Mishra are monitoring operations, ensuring that every possible resource, including UAVs, quadcopters, and avalanche rescue dogs, is used to locate the missing worker.
With more than 200 personnel from various agencies engaged in the rescue mission, officials warn that everything depends on the weather.
