Eight dead in India avalanche as rescue operation ends

AFP | London
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Rescuers have recovered the eighth and final body from the site of an avalanche in northern India, ending a grueling operation in sub-zero temperatures, the Indian Army confirmed on Sunday.

More than 50 workers were buried under snow and debris after the avalanche struck a construction camp near Mana village in Uttarakhand on Friday. Authorities later revised the number of workers on-site from 55 to 54 after confirming one had left before the disaster.

The army deployed drones and rescue dogs to aid in the search. Survivor Anil, speaking from his hospital bed, described the moment as surreal. “It felt like God's angels had come to save us,” he said.

Workers, part of a Border Roads Organisation project, were housed in steel containers designed for harsh weather. Survivors recounted waking up to the ground shaking and containers sliding under the force of the avalanche. “Some of us escaped, but not all made it,” Anil recalled.

At over 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) altitude, temperatures plunged to -12°C (10°F), complicating rescue efforts. Avalanche and landslide risks are common in the Himalayas, with experts warning that climate change and rapid development are worsening these threats.

In 2021, nearly 100 people died in Uttarakhand after a glacier collapse triggered flash floods, while monsoon floods in 2013 killed 6,000, prompting calls for stricter environmental safeguards.