Avalanche in Uttarakhand Claims Four Lives, Search for Missing Continues

Rescue operations are ongoing after an avalanche in Uttarakhand led to casualties among road construction workers, with authorities searching for those still missing.

At least four individuals have been confirmed dead following a devastating avalanche in the mountainous region of Uttarakhand, India. Authorities report that the disaster occurred on Friday in the village of Mana, close to the Tibetan border, where road construction workers were reportedly swept away by the avalanche.

Initial rescue efforts successfully located approximately 50 people buried under the snow and debris, although four victims succumbed to their injuries, as conveyed by the Indian army. In the ongoing search efforts, helicopters have been deployed in hopes of finding five individuals who are still unaccounted for in the area.

Uttarakhand's Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, emphasized the government's commitment to supporting those impacted by the avalanche, stating that rescue teams are actively engaged in relief efforts. Video posted on social media by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police illustrated the challenging conditions faced by rescuers, who were seen carrying individuals on stretchers through deep snow, even as snowfall persisted.

Local resident Gaurav Kunwar, a former village council member, described the affected area as predominantly seasonal, where only laborers working on border roads are present during the winter months, alongside a limited army presence. He highlighted that heavy rainfall had been recorded in the region for two days prior to the incident. Additionally, the India Meteorological Department issued warnings of severe weather patterns, including heavy rainfall and snowfall, for northern states like Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, along with orange alerts for various districts.