Badrinath avalanche: Video surfaces as over 50 workers remain trapped after glacier burst | Watch

Amid an avalanche warning, a glacier blast in Badrinath Dham has left over 57 workers of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp trapped under snow, officials said on Friday.

The incident took place near a highway in the state's Chamoli region, less than five kilometres (three miles) from the popular Hindu temple of Badrinath, which attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees each year. The avalanche buried a BRO camp between Mana and Badrinath.

Meanwhile, a video surfaced showing the current conditions in the region.

Senior police officer Nilesh Anand Bharne confirmed to news agency ANI that a massive avalanche near the BRO camp near Mana trapped at least 57 workers engaged in road construction near the Tibet border. Rescuers pulled out 10 workers who were in critical condition and sent them to the army camp near Mana.

Bharne said, “A massive avalanche has occurred near the Border Roads Organisation camp in the border area of ​​Mana in which 57 workers engaged in road construction have been trapped. Out of these workers, 10 workers have been rescued and sent to the army camp near Mana in critical condition.”

Meanwhile, BRO (Border Roads Organisation) Executive Engineer CR Meena said that 57 workers were present at the spot. Three to four ambulances have also been sent, but due to heavy snowfall, he said the rescue team was facing difficulties in reaching there.

Rescue workers were finding it difficult to reach the spot where the 47 workers are still trapped due to heavy snowfall, ANI reported another senior official.

Meanwhile, reacting to the news, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami posted, "Sad news was received about many workers being buried under avalanche during the construction work being carried out by BRO near Mana village in Chamoli district. Relief and rescue operations are being carried out by ITBP, BRO and other rescue teams. I pray to Lord Badri Vishal for the safety of all the labour brothers."

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF teams have left for the spot amid continuing snowfall and rain.