New Delhi (Reuters)-At least 41 people are arrested after an avalanche in the Indian mountainous state of Uttarakhand, Himalaia, officials said on Friday after a strong snowfall hit the region.
The avalanche took place near a highway in the Chamoli region, near Tibet, and less than 5 km from the popular Hindu Temple of Badrinath, which is visited by hundreds of thousands of devotees every year.
Local media previously reported that people were trapped after the “breakdown of a glacier”, before authorities confirmed that it was an avalanche.
According to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, people arrested under snow were construction workers at the Federal Border Roads. To date, 16 people have been rescued.
“All efforts are being made … our effort is to get everyone out of there as soon as possible,” Dhami told reporters.
Rescue teams find it difficult to get to people arrested due to strong snowfall, the Indian news agency Ani said, citing another senior authority.
Continues after advertising
Uttarakhand, located in the Himalayan mountain range, is increasingly prone to sudden floods and landslides due to increased global temperatures. Environmentalists ask for a review of energy and development projects on site.
