Rescue teams have recovered the eighth and final body from the site of an avalanche in northern India, bringing the extensive operation in freezing conditions to a close, the army confirmed on Sunday.
The avalanche struck a construction camp near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal sector on Friday, burying more than 50 workers under snow and debris. Initially, authorities reported 55 workers at the site but later revised the figure to 54 after confirming that one individual had safely reached home before the disaster.
The army deployed drone-based detection systems to aid in the search, alongside multiple drones and a rescue dog to locate survivors.
Anil, a construction worker in his late 20s, recalled his dramatic rescue hours after being trapped under the snow. Speaking from his hospital bed, he described the moment as surreal.
“It felt as if divine forces had come to save us,” he said. “When we were engulfed in snow, we had little hope of survival.”
Survivors Recall the Tragedy
The workers were engaged in a Border Roads Organisation project and were housed in steel containers designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.
Anil recounted that most workers were asleep, while a few were in makeshift toilets when the avalanche struck at around 6:00 a.m. on Friday. The force of the avalanche caused the ground to tremble, and the container he was in began sliding.
“At first, we didn’t understand what was happening. But when we looked out, all we could see was snow everywhere,” he said. “The roofs of our containers started caving in.”
As panic set in, some workers managed to escape, but many remained trapped inside.
Growing Risks in the Himalayas
Avalanches and landslides are frequent in the upper Himalayan regions, particularly during winter. Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, while rapid development in the ecologically fragile mountains has raised concerns over deforestation and construction-related risks.
In 2021, nearly 100 people lost their lives when a massive glacier collapse triggered flash floods in Uttarakhand. Similarly, in 2013, devastating monsoon floods and landslides claimed 6,000 lives, sparking calls for stricter oversight of development projects in the region.
