Surviving the Unthinkable: How a 25-Hour Rescue Effort Transformed an Avalanche Survivor’s Life

Dehradun: Jagbir Singh, a worker with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), shared a terrifying experience he had during a recent avalanche in Uttarakhand. When he regained consciousness, he found himself surrounded by deep snow and next to a deceased co-worker. He suffered from a fractured leg and head injuries.

Stranded in the high-altitude village of Mana, Singh and around a dozen others sought refuge in a nearby hotel. They endured the freezing temperatures for about 25 hours, relying on snow for hydration and sharing a single blanket to keep warm.

Singh, who hails from Amritsar, was resting in his container when the avalanche hit, sending them tumbling down the mountainside. “The container rolled down the slope. I quickly realized what had happened, but it was too late for some of my colleagues,” he recounted.

The avalanche trapped 54 BRO workers inside their containers early Friday morning. Tragically, seven workers lost their lives, while 46 others were rescued and treated for their injuries. Rescue operations are still ongoing for one worker who is missing.

Survivors told harrowing stories of their ordeal after being brought to a military hospital in Jyotirmath. Manoj Bhandari, from Uttarkashi, described how the avalanche struck with tremendous force, tossing their containers 300 meters in just ten seconds. “When it hit, I lost my senses momentarily. I realized I couldn’t run because the snow was so deep,” he said. The group managed to walk to an empty Army guest house, where they awaited rescue.

Others shared similar experiences. Avinash Kumar, a worker from Bihar, was mostly buried under snow except for his head. After two hours, he was rescued by Army personnel and received 29 stitches for a head injury.

Chandrabhan from Kanpur explained how a smaller snow slide preceded the main avalanche, giving them no time to react. “I escaped through a top opening on the container,” he said.

Many workers found shelter wherever they could—some in Army camps, others in deserted hotels. While some were rescued quickly, others endured hours of freezing temperatures. By Friday evening, 33 were rescued, followed by 17 more the next day.

Ganesh Kumar from Uttarakhand recalled that he had been asleep during the avalanche. “We were trapped in our container as it was swept by the snow,” he said. Rescuers eventually arrived and transported them to safety.

Vijaypal from Moradabad fell into a deep ditch during the chaos. He and his companions managed to find an empty Army barrack 200 meters away, which became their lifeline for the night before they were rescued.

With the region’s history of avalanches, the Army refrains from using the barrack during winter. However, it provided essential shelter for the stranded workers. Vijaypal noted that heavy snowfall had been ongoing before the twin avalanches struck their camp that fateful morning.

Their survival tales illustrate not only the dangers of working in such treacherous conditions but also the resilience of those who endure these frightening incidents. Each worker’s escape from the avalanche brings to light the grave risks faced in these rugged terrains.

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