An avalanche has struck the Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, leaving at least 25 people trapped beneath the snow.
Citing local media, Reuters reported that the incident occurred on Friday (February 28) near a highway in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, a region bordering Tibet, China.
A military statement indicated that the avalanche hit a worksite belonging to the Border Roads Organisation; eight shipping containers and a shed—housing a total of 57 workers—were buried. By late Friday, five containers had been located, while the search for the remaining three was ongoing.
Chief Minister Dhami told the Indian news agency ANI that evening that authorities had rescued 32 people, and there were no reports of fatalities.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, but Chamoli District Magistrate Tiwari stated that rain and snow are hampering the movement of personnel and supplies, and helicopter services are unavailable. The India Meteorological Department forecasts that snowfall in Uttarakhand will reach “heavy to very heavy” levels starting Friday—with accumulations of at least 12 centimeters—before significantly subsiding.
In 2021, a Himalayan glacier burst in Uttarakhand, washing away a dam in the Chamoli district and triggering floods that trapped hundreds of workers and resulted in multiple deaths.