Chamoli Avalanche: Could Traditional Practices Have Prevented This Disaster?
A major tragedy struck Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday, February 28, when an avalanche buried 54 laborers under the snow. Rescue teams, including the Army and ITBP, were immediately deployed to save them. The operation is now complete, with 46 workers rescued alive, but unfortunately, eight laborers lost their lives. This raises an important question—could this disaster have been avoided if traditional safety practices were followed?
What Happened in Chamoli’s Mana Pass?
The avalanche at Mana Pass led to the tragic deaths of eight workers. Avalanches occur when large amounts of snow, along with rocks and debris, slide down a mountain slope, causing widespread destruction. These disasters can be triggered by snowfall, global warming, earthquakes, loud noises, or human activities. Sadly, this is not the first avalanche in Uttarakhand—similar incidents have occurred in the past:
- 2008: An avalanche at Kalindi Pass killed six people, including five Navy mountaineers.
- 2012: Five tourists lost their lives in an avalanche near Vasuki Tal.
- 2019: A deadly avalanche on Nanda Devi peak claimed the lives of foreign mountaineers.
- 2021: Nine climbers died in an avalanche on Trishul Peak.
- 2024: An avalanche hit Gandhi Sarovar near Kedarnath on June 30.
54 Laborers Trapped Under Snow in Chamoli Avalanche
On February 28, 2025, another devastating avalanche struck Mana village, crashing down onto a tin-shed camp where laborers were working on a road project by the Border Roads Organization (BRO). These workers had come from different states to earn a livelihood. Avalanches frequently hit Himalayan states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, and locals are well aware of the risks. That’s why many mountain communities follow the traditional practice of migrating to lower altitudes during extreme winter months.
Could This Disaster Have Been Prevented?
However, the company overseeing the project ignored these risks. Despite an orange alert and avalanche warnings, laborers were still working in the hazardous zone. The region has witnessed similar negligence before—on February 7, 2021, a glacier burst in the Tapovan area near Raini village, causing massive destruction and loss
