Avalanche Tragically Claims Eight Lives in Northern India

Eight road construction workers lost their lives in an avalanche in Uttarakhand, India. Rescuers managed to save 46 others, but many were in critical condition as severe weather hampered operations.

A tragic avalanche struck a road construction workers’ camp in Uttarakhand, northern India, resulting in the deaths of eight workers, as reported by the Indian Army on Sunday. The disaster unfolded early on Friday in the village of Mana, where the avalanche buried the workers under several feet of snow.

Rescue teams faced significant challenges while attempting to extricate those trapped, working under extreme weather conditions that frequently halted their operations due to persistent snowfall and rain. Using advanced technology including GPS, thermal imaging cameras, and sniffer dogs, rescuers succeeded in evacuating 46 workers from the site.

Many of the rescued individuals were in critical condition and were airlifted to hospitals in nearby Joshimath for urgent medical attention. The construction workers were affiliated with the Border Roads Organization (BRO), an Indian armed forces division responsible for developing and maintaining road networks in the country's border regions.

The village of Mana sits at an elevation of 3,200 meters (over 10,000 feet) and is located roughly 15 miles from the Tibetan border. During winter, the village experiences severe snowfall, prompting its entire population to migrate to lower altitudes for safety.

Uttarakhand is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters like avalanches and floods. The region witnessed its worst natural calamity in 2013 when floods claimed over 1,000 lives. Furthermore, in 2021, an avalanche at a BRO camp in the same district resulted in the loss of 11 lives.

With the Indian Meteorological Department warning of potential further avalanches in the vicinity, the area remains a focal point for safety and disaster preparedness measures aimed at protecting both workers and residents.