Uttarakhand Avalanche: Body Of Last Missing Worker Recovered In Chamoli, Rescue Ops End

Army peronnel during rescue work after several labourers got trapped under snow following an avalanche in Mana area, in Chamoli district Sunday, March 2, 2025. (PTI Photo)

Uttarakhand Avalanche: Fresh details have emerged from Uttarakhand's Chamoli, where the body of the last missing person was found on Sunday. With the latest discovery, a rescue operation in Mana village, where an avalanche struck a BRO camp, culminated, Lt. Col. Manish Shrivastava, PRO (Defence) Dehradun, said.

Earlier in the day, three more bodies were found as rescue teams continued searching for the last missing worker. "All 54 persons have now been rescued or recovered. This marks the culmination of the Mana Village Rescue Operation," Shrivastava said.

Mana (Chamoli) avalanche incident | The last missing person's body has been found. All the 54 persons have been rescued/recovered. The recovery marks the culmination of Mana Village Rescue Operation: Lt Col Manish Shrivastava, PRO (Defence) Dehradun pic.twitter.com/1X7WFrF5AV — ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2025

As the search operations continued in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli on Sunday, the Army recovered two more bodies in the snow from the site of the avalanche that struck a BRO camp near Mana village. The efforts are still ongoing to locate the last remaining worker who is still missing. Earlier, bodies of BRO (Border Roads Organisation) workers retrieved from the avalanche site were airlifted and brought to Joshimath.

#WATCH | Mana (Chamoli) avalanche incident: Bodies of BRO (Border Roads Organisation) workers retrieved from the avalanche site airlifted and brought to Joshimath.#Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/H0MgJuntFA — ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2025

Rescue personnel used thermal imaging cameras and helicopters to assist in their search operations, which began for the second day this morning. However, rescue efforts were halted due to snowfall on Saturday evening.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said this morning that the search and rescue operation for the missing workers is ongoing. Multiple forces, including the Army, ITBP, Air Force, NDRF, and SDRF, are working collaboratively to assist. He further stated that ground-penetrating radar, thermal imaging cameras, and victim-locating cameras are being utilized to locate the missing workers.

He mentioned that weather conditions in the area are improving, but the possibility of avalanches remains high, prompting authorities to halt work in high-altitude areas as a precaution.

Earlier today, Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said, "Yesterday, doctors confirmed four deaths. Earlier, the total number was 55, but now we have the information that one of the workers was on unauthorized leave, and he is home. The total number has been reduced to 54, out of which four people are still missing," as quoted by ANI.

A Mi-17 helicopter airlifted a drone-based intelligent buried object detection system for search operations today, according to the Indian Air Force. Injured BRO workers are being airlifted for further treatment at Joshimath Army Hospital. IAF Cheetah helicopters have been engaged in rescue operations since Saturday.

(With agencies' Inputs)