Rescue teams have recovered the eighth and final body from the site of a massive avalanche that struck a construction camp in Uttarakhand’s Mana village, near the Tibet border. The disaster, which occurred on Friday morning, buried more than 50 workers under snow and debris in freezing conditions. The Indian Army confirmed the completion of search operations on Sunday, marking the end of a grueling mission in sub-zero temperatures.
Initial estimates suggested 55 workers were present at the time of the avalanche, but officials later revised the number to 54 after discovering that one had left the site before disaster struck. The avalanche hit at approximately 6:00 am, catching most workers in their sleep or inside makeshift toilets. Survivors described scenes of chaos as steel containers, used as temporary shelters, were shaken and buried under thick layers of snow.
Survivors Recall Moments of Despair
Among those pulled from the snow was Anil, a worker in his late 20s, who described his rescue as miraculous. “It was as if God’s angels had come to save us,” he said from his hospital bed. “The way we were engulfed in snow, we had no hope of surviving.” Vipan Kumar, another survivor, recounted the terrifying moments when he was trapped. “I heard a loud roar, like thunder … before I could react, everything went dark,” he told local media.
At an altitude of more than 3,200 meters (10,500 feet), temperatures in the area plummeted to minus 12 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit), making survival even more difficult. Rescue teams, working in these extreme conditions, used drones and sniffer dogs to locate those trapped beneath the snow. The Indian Army deployed a drone-based detection system, a critical tool in navigating the treacherous landscape.
Relief Efforts and Growing Concerns
Families of the trapped workers waited anxiously for updates as rescue teams battled the elements. Dhan Singh Bisht, whose son and nephew survived, expressed his gratitude to the relief workers. “I am grateful to them,” he said, overwhelmed with emotion. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which was overseeing the project, had provided steel containers instead of tents to offer better protection from harsh weather, but the avalanche proved too powerful.
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Avalanches and landslides are common in the Himalayan region, especially during winter, but experts warn that climate change is intensifying these disasters. Scientists say rising global temperatures contribute to unstable snowpack and more frequent avalanches. The rapid expansion of infrastructure in the fragile mountains—deforestation, road construction, and hydroelectric projects—has also heightened concerns about the region’s vulnerability.
A History of Himalayan Disasters
The avalanche in Mana village is the latest in a series of deadly natural disasters in Uttarakhand. In 2021, nearly 100 people lost their lives when a glacier chunk collapsed into a river, triggering flash floods. In 2013, devastating monsoon floods and landslides killed 6,000 people, prompting urgent calls for stricter environmental regulations. Despite warnings, large-scale construction continues in the ecologically sensitive region, raising fears of more tragedies in the future.
As Uttarakhand mourns the lives lost in the latest avalanche, the disaster serves as another grim reminder of the dangers faced by workers in the Himalayas. With climate change accelerating and infrastructure projects expanding, experts warn that such catastrophes may only become more frequent.