Chamoli: On Friday morning, the avalanche near Mana in Chamoli district occurred not once but three times, creating a disastrous scenario for the workers stationed there.
The third avalanche was particularly devastating, destroying everything in its path. The workers who survived this ordeal recounted their terrifying experiences.
Workers explained that the avalanche struck three times
Workers Ram Kumar and Dheeraj, who are currently admitted in Jyotirmath Army Hospital, explained that the avalanche struck three times. The first mild avalanche occurred between 5:30 and 6:00 AM, giving no indication of the impending disaster. Around 7:00 AM, a second, more severe snowstorm hit, burying them completely. With the help of each other and a loader driver, they managed to escape. However, as they moved a little further, a third and extremely powerful avalanche occurred, which could have been fatal had they remained in the same spot.
Second snowstorm buried them deeper
The BRO workers Sukhdev Singh and Govind narrated their ordeal, explaining how they were initially buried under snow after a mild tremor. After some time, a bigger tremor hit, destroying their container and burying them further. They managed to escape with each other’s help and reached an empty army camp. The next day, soldiers rescued them.
Arvind Singh, deputy project manager, BRO, was the first victim of avalanche
Arvind, the deputy project manager engaged in highway widening work, tragically lost his life in the avalanche. On the night of February 27, he spoke to Pitambar Molfa, the village head of Mana, for about ten minutes over the phone, joking and laughing as usual. Arvind mentioned that he was looking forward to going home for Holi on March 10. Unfortunately, the avalanche struck the next morning, and Arvind was buried in the snow. Pitambar recalled how cheerful and sociable Arvind was and how he often took information about the Mana area from him.
9 months pregnant wife waits for him at home
Arvind’s wife, who is nine months pregnant, was waiting for his visit in Holi so that they both can welcome their first baby. Arvind was a resident of Gokul Dham, New Colony, Clementtown, Dehradun. He used to go to the border area in the morning for the highway widening work and return to Base Camp Mana in the evening. His sudden demise has left his friends and family in deep sorrow.
Workers who survived the avalanche are struggling to forget the horrific scene
The workers who survived the avalanche are struggling to forget the horrific scene. They still recall the moment they were suddenly buried under snow. The intensity of the avalanche was such that the container they were staying in was completely destroyed. Some workers managed to save their lives by running away, while others were rescued by army and ITBP personnel. A worker, Indrajit Kumar described how they were in a tin shed when the snow broke off from the hill and fell on them. They had no chance to run and were swept away to the river with the snow. Many of their companions were injured, but later soldiers arrived and brought them to safety.
