Given the increasing frequency of such disasters, the government aims to set up better early warning systems and improve emergency response times

Four Army choppers have been pressed into rescue operations to save eight people still trapped under snow in the avalanche that struck near Mana Village in Chamoli district of the state, district magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said on Saturday.

Five BRO workers are still trapped in the avalanche that hit Chamoli's Mana village on Friday. The SDRF has flown to Joshimath with a Victim Locating and Thermal Image Camera to intensify the rescue operation.