India’s army has completed its rescue operation after finding the eighth and final body of workers buried under an avalanche in the state of Uttarakhand, marking the end to a marathon effort in subzero temperatures.
The avalanche occurred on Friday at a construction camp near Mana village, killing more than 50 workers who were trapped under snow and debris. The operation began with 54 workers on site, but one was later found safe and sound.
Rescuers managed to pull out 50 people, but four succumbed to their injuries. The remaining bodies were recovered over the weekend using a drone-based detection system and a rescue dog, bringing an end to the grueling search.
The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand is prone to natural disasters due to climate change, with numerous reports of avalanches, flash floods, and landslides in recent years. In 2021, nearly 100 people died when a glacier fell into a river, triggering devastating flash floods.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/2/india-avalanche-rescue-operation-ends-as-eighth-and-final-body-found