Four dead and several missing after India avalanche

An avalanche in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has resulted in at least four fatalities, with several others still missing. Local authorities have confirmed the incident and are currently engaged in extensive rescue operations to locate those unaccounted for.

The avalanche struck near Mana village, bordering Tibet, on Friday while road construction workers were on duty. Rescue teams promptly initiated operations to search for individuals buried under snow and debris. The Indian military reported that approximately 50 people were rescued, but tragically, four of them succumbed to their injuries.

Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with helicopters deployed to the Himalayan region to locate the remaining five missing individuals. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that rescue teams are "continuously engaged in relief work," noting that the avalanche struck a Border Roads Organisation camp. He further added that the government is committed to providing all possible assistance to those affected "during this difficult time."

A video posted on X by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police showed rescuers transporting injured individuals on stretchers and navigating through several feet of snow amidst ongoing snowfall. Gaurav Kunwar, a former village council member of Mana, stated that the area where the avalanche occurred is a "migration zone" and "no one lives there permanently."

Kunwar added, "Only workers working on the border road stay there in the winter. There is also some army deployment there. We heard that it had been raining in the area for two days. The avalanche occurred while the road workers were in the camp." The India Meteorological Department issued a warning on Friday, indicating the potential for heavy rainfall and snowfall in northern Indian states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. Orange alerts for snowfall have also been issued in several areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.