8 die in Uttarakhand avalanche mishap, 384 people rescued

Eight people were killed and six critically injured after they were caught in an avalanche that was reported in Niti valley in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. Further, 384 persons have been rescued so far and six of them are said to be critical. They are currently receiving medical treatment. As per the latest input,  multiple landslides had also taken place in the area, snapping road access to the BRO camp. Rescue operations were hampered as a result. Teams of the Border Road Task Force (BRTF) were working to restore the road access. “Road access is cut off at 4 to 5 locations due to multiple landslides. BRTF teams from Joshimath working to clear the slides en route from Bhapkund to Sumna since last evening. It's expected to take another 6-8 hrs to clear this complete axis,” the Army said earlier in the morning.The avalanche incident was initially described as a glacier burst. Rescue operations were halted for the night due to adverse weather conditions and they resumed in the morning.

Surya Command earlier informed on Twitter that a BRO camp was hit by an “avalanche” on the afternoon of April 23 (Friday) during heavy snowfall in Sumna area. Initial rescue operations were hampered by blizzard conditions. “While 55 BRO persons could be mustered at first count, blizzard conditions kept rescue operation at bay till late evening. In a night rescue operation undertaken by the Army, another 150 GREF persons trapped in the BRO Camp have been rescued and brought to safety. Rescue operations are still in progress to locate the remainder persons still trapped under snow or stranded at work sites since late evening,” the Central Command had tweeted earlier. It said mountaineering rescue teams and air support had been put on standby to aid in the rescue operations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had taken “immediate cognizance” of the avalanche incident in Sumna of Niti Valley yesterday. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said the home minister had assured of all possible help and instructed the Indo-Tibetan Border Police to stay vigilant. "Home Minister Amit Shah called us up last night. NDRF and the district administration are on the job. ITBP and BRO were informed. Rescue was done quickly. I did an aerial survey today. BRO is carrying out the operation but the connectivity remains affected," Rawat said.