Avalanche Strikes Uttarakhand: Four Confirmed Dead, Search Continues for Missing

Rescuers in Uttarakhand are working tirelessly after an avalanche killed four people and left several missing, with efforts intensified to locate those unaccounted for in the mountainous terrain.

At least four people have been reported dead and numerous others are unaccounted for following a devastating avalanche in Uttarakhand, India, according to officials. The disaster struck on Friday in the village of Mana, located near the Tibetan border, where road construction workers were present.

Rescue teams have been mobilized to search for victims buried beneath the heavy snowfall and debris. The Indian army reported that around 50 individuals who were trapped have been rescued, but sadly, four succumbed to their injuries.

In response to the ongoing search, helicopters have been deployed to assist in finding five individuals still missing in the rugged Himalayan landscape. Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, stated that rescue operations are "continuously engaged in relief efforts" and emphasized the government's commitment to support those affected during this critical time.

Footage released on social media by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police captured the scene, depicting rescuers transporting victims on stretchers through deep snow amidst continuing snowfall.

Gaurav Kunwar, a former village council member of Mana, detailed that the avalanche struck a "migratory area" where only seasonal laborers and some military personnel reside during winter months. He noted that heavy rain had been affecting the region for two days prior to the incident.

The India Meteorological Department issued warnings of increased precipitation and snowfall across northern states, including Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, with orange alerts activated for specific districts.