Eight dead in India avalanche as rescue operation ends

Final Body Recovered After Deadly Avalanche in Northern India

DEHRADUN, India – Rescuers have recovered the eighth and final body from the site of a devastating avalanche in northern India, the army confirmed on Sunday, concluding an arduous operation in freezing conditions.

The avalanche struck a construction camp near Mana village, close to the Tibet border in Uttarakhand, on Friday, burying more than 50 workers under snow and debris.

Initially, authorities reported 55 workers were present at the site, but later revised the number to 54 after confirming that one worker, previously thought to be trapped, had safely reached home before the disaster.

The army deployed drones and a rescue dog to assist in the extensive search operation, using drone-based detection technology to locate survivors and victims.

Survivors Recall Harrowing Ordeal

Anil, a construction worker in his late 20s, was among those rescued. Speaking from his hospital bed, he described his survival as nothing short of miraculous.

"It felt like angels had come to save us," he told AFP. "We were completely buried in snow, and we had lost all hope."

Anil and his colleagues were working on a Border Roads Organisation project and had been living in steel containers, designed to withstand harsh conditions. Many workers were asleep, while others were in makeshift toilets when the avalanche struck around 6:00 a.m.

"As the ground shook, our container started sliding down," Anil recalled. "At first, we didn’t understand what was happening. But when we looked outside, there was snow everywhere, and the roof of our container was caving in."

Some managed to escape, but others remained trapped beneath the snow.

Vipan Kumar, another survivor, feared for his life as he struggled for air beneath the heavy snow.

"I heard a loud roar, like thunder," he told The Times of India. "Before I could react, everything went dark."

Rescue Efforts and Rising Risks in the Himalayas

With temperatures plunging to -12°C (10°F) at an altitude of over 3,200 meters (10,500 feet), the rescue teams worked tirelessly to locate survivors.

Dhan Singh Bisht, whose son and nephew were rescued, expressed his deep gratitude to the relief teams.

"I am thankful to them," he told AFP.

Avalanches and landslides are frequent in the Himalayas, particularly during winter. Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, while rapid development in the fragile region has raised concerns about deforestation and construction-related risks.

In 2021, nearly 100 people died in Uttarakhand when a massive glacier collapse triggered flash floods. In 2013, catastrophic monsoon floods and landslides killed 6,000 people, prompting calls for stricter regulations on development projects in the state.