At least four individuals have lost their lives following a catastrophic avalanche in Uttarakhand, India, which also left several others missing, according to local authorities. The incident, which occurred on Friday, involved a group of road construction workers in the village of Mana, located near the border with Tibet.
Rescue operations are actively underway, with rescue teams having successfully extricated about 50 individuals buried under snow and debris, although four succumbed to their injuries, as reported by the Indian Army. Helicopters have been deployed to source five missing individuals in this remote, mountainous region known for its treacherous conditions.
Uttarakhand's Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, assured the public that rescue teams are "continuously engaged in relief efforts" in the aftermath of the avalanche that affected a Border Roads Organisation camp. He emphasized the government's commitment to extending assistance to all those impacted by the tragedy "in this hour of crisis."
Visuals shared on social media by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police show resilient rescuers navigating through deep snow, persistently aiding victims despite ongoing adverse weather conditions.
Gaurav Kunwar, a former village council member from Mana, explained that the area is primarily a "migratory zone" where no permanent residents live, typically housing only workers and some military personnel during colder months. He noted that the area had been experiencing heavy rainfall for two days prior to the avalanche's occurrence.
The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings of severe rain and snow not just for Uttarakhand, but also for nearby states including Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, leading to orange alerts for expected snowfall in several districts.
