Chamoli (Uttarakhand), Feb 28: A massive avalanche struck Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday left at least 42 workers engaged in road construction near Mana village, close to the India-Tibet border, trapped under the snow, and a multi-agency operation has been launched to rescue them, officials said.

According to reports, 57 workers were present at the site when the avalanche occurred. While 15 have been rescued and rushed to an army camp in critical condition, efforts are underway to locate the remaining trapped workers.

Rescue operations are being carried out by multiple agencies, including the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Army.

An Army statement said, the avalanche struck around 7.15 a.m. near a BRO camp, approximately 3 km ahead of Badrinath Dham, where workers were clearing snow for army movement. The Army’s swift response teams, including over 100 personnel from the Ibex Brigade, doctors, ambulances, and heavy equipment, were immediately mobilized.

An army official stated that ongoing snowfall and intermittent smaller avalanches are slowing rescue efforts, which are being conducted with extreme caution. The General Reserve Engineer Force (GERF) is also working to clear the road between Joshimath and Mana, while additional medical resources from Joshimath are being mobilised.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on X: “Spoke to Chief Minister @pushkardhami ji, DG ITBP, and DG NDRF regarding the Chamoli avalanche. Our priority is to safely evacuate those trapped. The local administration is engaged in full-scale rescue efforts. Two NDRF teams are also en route.”

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep concern over the tragedy, stating: “Sad news has been received about workers being buried under an avalanche during BRO’s construction work near Mana. Rescue operations by ITBP, BRO, and other teams are in full swing. I pray to Lord Badri Vishal for everyone’s safety.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also posted: “An unfortunate avalanche has struck the Mana area in Joshimath, affecting the BRO’s GREF camp. I have spoken to CM @pushkardhami. The administration is providing all possible assistance, and the Army is leading rescue efforts with all available resources.”

District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari has directed officials to expedite the rescue mission. He confirmed that 57 workers were engaged in clearing snow for army movement when the avalanche struck. So far, no fatalities have been reported.

A team of the SDRF has been dispatched from Joshimath, while a high-altitude rescue team remains on standby at Sahastradhara helipad, awaiting improved weather for aerial deployment. The Army has also been contacted to clear blocked routes in Lambagad.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand and other hilly regions, warning of extremely heavy snowfall – up to 20 cm – until late Friday night.

Rescue teams continue to battle challenging conditions as efforts intensify to locate and save the trapped workers.

New Delhi, Feb 28: The parents of RG Kar Medical college doctor, who was raped and murdered on the hospital campus on August 9 last year, on Friday said that Mamata Banerjee-led state government is responsible for their daughter’s tragic fate. They also accused the state government of passing the buck and failing to deliver justice, even a year after the horrifying case of rape and murder that shook the entire nation.

The parents of the murdered woman doctor of R G Kar hospital said this after meeting the CBI director, regarding the ongoing probe into the crime. They recently traveled to Delhi to raise their concerns before the investigating agency.

“We met CBI Director Praveen Sood and discussed the verdict given by the Sealdah Court. We also sought clarity on what the CBI has done so far in the investigation and requested the director to ensure my daughter gets proper justice. The supplementary chargesheet, which was scheduled for submission in court, was also a point of discussion,” said the victim’s father.

Raising concerns over procedural delays, he added, “We have not even received my daughter’s death certificate yet, so we urged the CBI director to help us obtain it. He assured us of his support.”

The grieving parents slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her recent remarks, in which she accused the CBI of not handling the case properly. “Mamata Banerjee is misleading the people and voters. She never questioned why her own police failed to act promptly. Instead, she always blames the CBI and other agencies,” the father stated.

He also alleged that the state government deliberately tried to suppress the case. “Mamata Banerjee’s police did nothing for four days after my daughter’s death. She instructed all stakeholders to stay silent and even arranged for my daughter’s body to be cremated at 2:00 a.m. that night.”

Hinting at a larger conspiracy, he said that the Chief minister must take accountability for inordinate delay in justice.

“As both CM and health minister, she had the duty to ensure my daughter’s safety but failed. I believe there is a bigger plot behind this crime, and she is responsible for it.”

The body of the 31-year-old second-year postgraduate student, who was raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the hospital, was found on August 9. The police later said that multiple lacerations and wounds were found on her body.

Chandigarh, Feb 28: Announcing a crusade against the drug menace, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday asked Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free in three months.

He said the government would set up special courts to ensure speedy trial of drugs cases and ensure conviction of the culprits.

Taking part in deliberations at a meeting with the top police officers, CM Bhagwant Mann said, “This is a historic moment as the Punjab government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and is launching a crusade against this menace.”

CM Mann said Punjab Police has a long and glorious history of tackling hostile law and order situations, and expressed hope that the police force would uphold its glorious tradition and make the state completely drug-free, with the active support and cooperation of the public.

CM Mann said there is no dearth of funds and assured full support and cooperation to the police and the civil administration for this cause.

He said preventive measures should be taken in schools and colleges so that the youth of Punjab doesn’t fell prey to the scourge of drugs.

CM Mann said the supply line of drugs should be snapped and those selling the drugs should be put behind bars.

CM Mann said the government will also ensure that the drug peddlers and their families do not get any sort of subsidy in terms of free power, water or healthcare so that this factor acts as a deterrent for criminals.

CM Mann said all the necessary formalities regarding it would be finalised soon, adding if any further amendment in the NDPS Act will be required to ensure exemplary action against drug peddlers, it would be flagged up with the Union government.

He said the war against drugs should be transformed into a mass and social campaign for which the officers must plan big.

Citing the example of Narangwal village where the illegal property of a drug smuggler was razed on Thursday, Mann said a library would be constructed over the ‘shamlat (common)’ land where the house was razed.

CM Mann said the war against drug has to be won by planning and execution at the micro level, for which the officers have to play a proactive role.

The Chief Minister said that within three months there should be no availability of drugs in Punjab and after a month evaluation of each SSP will be made regarding the progress in the anti-drug programme in the district.