00:00 A disastrous incident unfolded in the picturesque Gulmarg region of Kashmir.
00:07 An avalanche struck the renowned ski destination on Thursday, i.e. on February 2, claiming
00:14 the life of at least one foreign skier and leaving several others trapped under the thick
00:19 blanket of snow.
00:21 This week, Gulmarg experienced an astonishing 5 feet, which is equivalent to 1.5 meters,
00:28 of snowfall, prompting authorities to issue an avalanche warning for the area.
00:33 The allure of the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan region has drawn winter sports
00:38 enthusiasts, but sadly, the area has seen its share of avalanche-related incidents in
00:44 recent years.
00:45 Recent years have seen several such incidents claiming numerous lives across India.
00:49 Let's have a look at the recent snow slides in India.
00:57 On February 1 of the previous year, Gulmarg witnessed another tragic incident claiming
01:03 the lives of two Polish skiers, with 19 others miraculously rescued from the aftermath.
01:08 Reportedly, four people, including two foreign skiers and two guides, were missing in the
01:13 incident.
01:19 On October 4, 2022, Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand faced the fury of an avalanche that claimed
01:26 the lives of 16 individuals, including trainee mountaineers from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.
01:32 A group of 41 mountaineers participating in a training course found themselves trapped
01:38 beneath the snow.
01:44 Tragedy struck the Kameng area of Arunachal Pradesh on February 6 of 2022, where seven
01:49 Indian soldiers lost their lives in a devastating avalanche near the Chinese border.
01:55 Despite extensive rescue operations, their bodies were eventually found in the perilous
02:00 terrain at an elevation of 14,500 feet.
02:09 Chamoli in Uttarakhand faced a disaster on April 23, 2021, as an avalanche triggered
02:15 by a glacier collapse near the India-China border claimed the lives of eight individuals.
02:20 The avalanche led to the rescue of over 380 people engaged in construction work in the
02:25 Sumna-Rimkhim road area.
02:32 In a devastating incident on February 7, 2021, Chamoli district witnessed one of the most
02:38 catastrophic avalanches, claiming at least 80 lives and leaving over 200 individuals
02:43 missing.
02:44 The avalanche, triggered by a glacier break, not only swept away the Rishiganga hydroelectric
02:49 project but also caused extensive damage downstream on the Dhauliganga river, leading to flash
02:55 floods and widespread destruction of structures and properties in the state.
03:00 These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing the risks
03:05 posed by avalanches in various regions across India.
03:09 Our thoughts go out to the families affected by this recent tragedy in Gulmarg.
03:13 For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/disasters region/gulmarg
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