Avalanche Traps 42 Workers Near India-Tibet Border Amid Severe Weather
An avalanche in Uttarakhand has trapped 42 workers, complicating rescue operations due to severe weather and blocked roads. Initially, 57 were caught, but 15 have been rescued. The region experiences frequent avalanches, with ongoing concerns regarding climate change and development impacts.
An avalanche in Uttarakhand has trapped 42 construction workers under snow near the India-Tibet border. This incident occurred at a camp close to the Himalayan village of Mana during extreme weather conditions characterized by blizzards. Initially, 57 workers were caught in the avalanche while clearing snow, yet 15 have been rescued, leaving 42 still unaccounted for, according to state disaster relief official Ridhim Agarwal.
Rescue efforts are complicated due to severe weather, with blocked roads hampering access to the high-altitude camp, which had an avalanche warning in place prior to the incident. Deepam Seth, the top police officer in the region, indicated that the conditions were deteriorating with continuous snowfall and strong winds, and roads remain impassable. “We have deployed snow cutters to open the road,” he stated.
The Indian army’s Central Command has stated that additional troops and resources are being dispatched to assist in the rescue operations. Avalanches and landslides are frequent occurrences in the upper Himalayan region, with recent studies indicating that climate change is exacerbating these severe weather patterns.
The increased industrial activity and deforestation in the northern Himalayan areas amplify the risks associated with these natural disasters. Past events, such as a glacier fall in 2021 that resulted in around 100 fatalities, highlight the dangers posed by environmental changes. Additionally, the catastrophic floods and landslides in 2013 led to significant loss of life and prompted discussions on the need for careful review of development projects.
The ongoing rescue operations for the 42 workers trapped in Uttarakhand due to an avalanche illustrate the dangers posed by extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change and increased industrial activity in vulnerable regions. The complexities of the situation, highlighted by difficult weather conditions and prior disasters, underscore the urgent need for improved safety measures and careful development practices in similar high-risk areas.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
