India: Over 40 Workers Missing After Avalanche in the Himalayas
NEW DELHI, February 28, 2025 – More than 40 construction workers are unaccounted for, while 15 others have been rescued following an avalanche in Uttarakhand, India’s Himalayan state, triggered by heavy snowfall, rescue officials reported on Friday.
Rescue teams have been digging through thick snow for hours, according to Ridhim Agarwal, a member of the rescue team. “Currently, 15 workers are safe, while 42 are reported missing,” he added.
The avalanche struck a construction site in the Chamoli district, burying workers under snow and debris. Agarwal further noted that high-altitude rescue teams will be deployed to the location via helicopter as soon as weather conditions improve.
Deepam Seth, the state’s police chief, stated that adverse weather is complicating rescue operations. “There has been heavy snowfall accompanied by strong winds… The roads are completely blocked. We have deployed snowplows to clear the path,” he told NDTV.
