New Delhi

As a result of swift, prompt and collective efforts of the security forces, including the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 50 workers were rescued from the avalanche that struck Mana village in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, on Friday night, an official said on Saturday, adding four persons, however, were killed in the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah closely monitored the rescue operations, led by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, providing instructions at regular intervals.

Of the 55 workers caught in the avalanche near Mana, 50 have been successfully rescued. Among the five missing workers, one from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, has safely returned home. The search for the remaining four missing workers continues, with rescue teams working tirelessly.

The army's sniffer dogs are also being utilised.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dhami received latest updates on the rescue operations from Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman and District Magistrate of Chamoli, Sandeep Tiwari, late in the evening.

He has directed a comprehensive search and rescue operation to find the missing workers. Unfortunately, it has been reported that four workers have lost their lives due to the avalanche.

Under the Chief Minister's directive, rescue and relief efforts continued late into Saturday evening to search for the missing workers. The Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, and SDRF are conducting intense search operations.

On Sunday, a search operation using GPR (ground penetrating radar) will be carried out, thermal imaging cameras and victim location cameras will be utilised to assist in the search.

Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman reported that on Saturday, 24 workers were transported from the army hospital in Mana to Joshimath, where they are being treated. Among them, two workers are in critical condition and have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh.

One patient has already been admitted to AIIMS, and the other is being shifted there. One worker has reportedly died in Joshimath. Additionally, 26 workers were rescued from Badrinath/Mana; among them; 23 are safe, while three lost their lives.

The District Magistrate of Chamoli has instructed representatives of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) to contact the families of the missing workers to gather information. When BRO contacted Sunil Kumar's home in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, it was discovered that he had safely returned home.

Currently, four workers remain missing, and both the state and Union governments have directed rescue teams to locate them. By late Saturday evening, the relief and rescue teams had discovered all eight containers.

Upon inspection, no workers were found inside. Due to the on-going rescue operation, Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman has requested the Director of Jolly Grant Airport to extend the airport's operational hours to 8:30 PM to accommodate the landing of the GPR dispatched from Delhi.

On Friday morning, between 5.30 and 6 a.m., a dangerous avalanche struck a camp of workers situated between Mana and Badrinath, burying 55 workers alive in eight containers and a shed. These workers were part of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the high mountains of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district.