Fri Feb 28 12:35:08 UTC 2025: ## 42 Workers Still Missing After Uttarakhand Avalanche
**Mana, Uttarakhand, India** – A massive avalanche near the Indian border with Tibet has left 42 construction workers missing and feared trapped under the snow. The avalanche struck a work camp near the mountain village of Mana on Friday, initially burying 57 workers who were clearing snow. While 15 have been rescued, blizzard-like conditions and blocked roads are severely hindering rescue efforts for the remaining 42.
Deepam Seth, the state’s top police officer, reported heavy snowfall and strong winds are making access to the high-altitude camp extremely difficult. Snow cutters are being deployed to clear blocked roads, and the Indian army’s Central Command has announced that additional troops and equipment are being mobilized. The area had been under an avalanche warning since Thursday evening.
This latest incident highlights the perilous conditions in the Himalayas, where avalanches and landslides are common. Climate change is exacerbating these risks, with scientists linking warmer oceans to more severe weather patterns. Concerns are also growing regarding the impact of increased development and deforestation in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. The incident comes as another rescue operation continues in southern India, where workers are trapped in a collapsed tunnel. The 2021 Uttarakhand glacier disaster, which killed nearly 100 people, serves as a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability.
First Piper 