Uttarakhand: Dozens missing in Indian Himalayas avalanche

A massive avalanche struck a remote border region in Uttarakhand, northern India, with official reports indicating that at least 25 road workers remain trapped. Rescue operations are underway amidst extreme weather conditions and continuous snowfall, creating a dire situation. The challenging terrain further complicates the already difficult rescue efforts.

Senior district official Sandeep Tiwari told BBC Hindi that 32 workers have been rescued and transferred to nearby army camps. The avalanche hit a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp in Mana village, which borders Tibet. Rescue teams are overcoming adverse weather conditions, making every effort to search for the trapped individuals and provide necessary assistance.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated on social media platform X that the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and other rescue teams are conducting rescue operations. Ambulances and emergency response teams have been urgently dispatched, but the hazardous environment poses significant challenges to rescuers. A video released by ITBP on X showed rescuers carrying injured individuals on stretchers, struggling through several feet of snow while snowfall continues, highlighting the perilous conditions.

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Commander Colonel Ankur Mahajan told the Hindustan Times that the rescued individuals are receiving treatment, "but the extent of their injuries is not yet clear." Gaurav Kunwar, a former village council member of Mana village, told BBC News that details about the incident are still unclear. "No one lives there permanently. It is a migratory area, and only workers working on the border roads live there in winter. There are also some troops stationed there. We heard that it had been raining in the area for two days. The road workers were in the camp when the avalanche hit."

The Indian Meteorological Department had earlier issued a warning on Friday, forecasting heavy rainfall and snowfall in the northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. An orange alert for snowfall has also been issued for several areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, signaling potential disruptions and urging caution.