Tragic Avalanche Claims Lives in Uttarakhand; Rescue Teams Mobilized

Rescue efforts are ongoing in Uttarakhand, where an avalanche has left four dead and several missing. Authorities urgently search for individuals buried under the snow, with helicopters involved in the operation.

An avalanche in Uttarakhand, northern India, has resulted in at least four confirmed deaths and multiple individuals missing, according to local authorities. The avalanche struck on Friday, impacting a group of road construction workers in Mana village, located near the border with Tibet.

Rescue operations commenced immediately after the incident, with over 50 people rescued from the snow and debris, though tragically, four succumbed to their injuries, as reported by the Indian Army. The search continues for five missing individuals, with helicopters dispatched to assist in the efforts, according to officials.

Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reassured the public that rescue teams are diligently conducting relief operations following the avalanche, which hit a camp operated by the Border Roads Organisation. "In this hour of crisis, we are committed to providing all possible assistance to those affected," he declared.

Video footage shared on social media by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police illustrated the challenging conditions faced by rescue workers, who are seen transporting survivors on stretchers through several feet of accumulated snow, as more snowfall threatens to impede their progress.

Gaurav Kunwar, a former village council member from Mana, offered insights into the area, noting that the site of the avalanche is typically a "migratory area" without permanent residents, except for laborers working on border roads during the winter months. He informed that prior to the avalanche, the region experienced two days of continuous rain.

The India Meteorological Department has issued alerts regarding the potential for heavy snowfall and rainfall in Uttarakhand and neighboring states, including Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Orange warnings have also been issued for several districts in these regions, emphasizing the severe weather conditions contributing to the disaster.