India, March 1 -- Twenty-two Border Roads Organisation (BRO) labourers working to clear snow near the high-altitude border village of Mana in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district remained trapped under an avalanche till late on Friday even as 33 were pulled out in a frantic rescue operation, officials said.

Rescue teams were battling treacherous terrain, blinding snowfall and freezing temperatures in a desperate race against time to save the trapped workers. The extreme weather has forced rescuers to proceed without air support, relying instead on ground teams navigating blocked mountain roads, the officials cited above added.

"At about 8am, a massive avalanche hit the camp trapping 55 workers there [two of the workers were on leave]. The Ind...