Avalanche In Kashmir: A Look Back At Deadly Snowslides That Hit India In Recent Years

An avalanche struck Gulmarg, a renowned ski destination in Kashmir, on Thursday, resulting in the death of at least one foreign skier and trapping several others.

This week, Gulmarg received approximately 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snowfall, prompting authorities to issue an avalanche warning for the area.

While the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan region in Kashmir attract many winter sports enthusiasts, the area has witnessed numerous avalanche-related incidents in the past. In February of the previous year, an avalanche in the Gulmarg region claimed the lives of two Polish skiers while 19 others were rescued.

Recent years have seen several such incidents claiming numerous lives across India. Here's a list of recent snowslides in India:

Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir (FEBRUARY 2023)

A massive avalanche hit the popular Gulmarg ski resort in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, killing two Polish skiers while 21 others were rescued on Feb 1, 2023. Reportedly, four people, including two foreign skiers and two guides, were reported missing in the incident.

Uttarakashi, Uttarakhand (OCTOBER 2022)

On October 4, 2022, an avalanche claimed the lives of 16 individuals, including trainee mountaineers, in Uttarkashi's Matli in Uttarakhand. Among those affected, a group of 41 mountaineers from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) participating in a training course found themselves trapped beneath the snow.

Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh (FEBRUARY 2022)

A tragic incident occurred in the Kameng area of Arunachal Pradesh, close to the Chinese border, on February 6, 2022. Seven Indian soldiers lost their lives in a devastating avalanche. Despite extensive rescue operations over several days, their bodies were eventually found in the perilous terrain, located at an elevation of 14,500 feet.

Chamoli, Uttarakhand (APRIL 2021)

Uttarakhand's Chamoli district witnessed tragedy on April 23, 2021, as an avalanche, triggered by a glacier collapse near the India-China border, claimed the lives of eight individuals. The disaster, occurring beyond Sumna on the Sumna-Rimkhim road, where laborers were engaged in construction work, resulted in the rescue of over 380 people.

Chamoli, Uttarakhand (FEBRUARY 2021)

In a deadly incident on February 7, 2021, in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, at least 80 lives were lost, with over 200 individuals reported missing, following an avalanche triggered by a glacier break. The avalanche not only swept away the Rishiganga hydroelectric project but also caused extensive damage to a larger project downstream on the Dhauliganga river. This disaster was marked as one of the most devastating tragedies of the year, leading to flash floods and extensive destruction of structures and properties in the state.