Authorities report that at least 25 individuals are trapped following an avalanche that struck a labor camp, burying many under a thick layer of snow.

Officials have confirmed that a minimum of 25 people are unaccounted for after an avalanche impacted the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.

The avalanche, triggered by severe blizzard conditions, occurred on Friday near a highway in the Chamoli district, which borders Tibet.

This natural disaster struck a worksite operated by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), resulting in eight containers and one shelter being engulfed in snow while 57 workers were present inside, according to a statement released by the Indian Army.

So far, five of the containers have been located, and efforts to find the remaining three are currently underway.

As of Friday evening, Chamoli’s District Administrator Sandeep Tiwari reported that 32 workers have been successfully rescued, with no fatalities reported at this time.

However, robust winds and persistent snowfall are hindering the rescue operations, stated Deepam Seth, the state’s chief police officer.

“The area is experiencing heavy snowfall along with strong winds… The roads are entirely blocked. We have deployed snow-clearing machinery to assist with opening the routes,” he informed NDTV.

According to Ridhim Agarwal of the state disaster relief force, high-altitude rescue teams are prepared to be airlifted to the location as soon as weather conditions improve.

India’s meteorological department has forecasted significant snowfall—characterized as “heavy to very heavy,” meaning at least 12 centimeters (5 inches)—over the region through Friday, before a considerable decrease in precipitation.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his sorrow regarding the incident and is closely monitoring the ongoing rescue efforts.

Reports indicate that the high-altitude camp had been under an avalanche warning since Thursday evening.

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An avalanche struck a GREF Camp near Mana village in the Garhwal Sector. Many laborers are feared trapped. The Indian Army’s IBEX Brigade quickly initiated rescue operations despite the ongoing heavy snowfall and minor avalanches. So far 10… pic.twitter.com/adVcAu9g4g

— SuryaCommand_IA (@suryacommand) February 28, 2025

Such avalanches and landslides are prevalent in the high-altitude areas of the Himalayas.

Researchers have indicated that climate change is intensifying weather patterns, exacerbated by rising ocean temperatures.

The accelerated development in these delicate Himalayan regions has also raised concerns regarding the repercussions of deforestation and construction activities.

In 2021, a tragic incident in Uttarakhand resulted in nearly 100 fatalities when a massive glacier segment fell into a river, triggering flash floods.

In 2013, catastrophic monsoon floods and landslides claimed around 6,000 lives, prompting calls for a reassessment of development projects in the state.

The avalanche on Friday coincided with a prolonged rescue operation that has been ongoing for a week in Nagarkurnool, a southern Indian town, where several workers are trapped in a partially collapsed tunnel.