A devastating avalanche in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on February 28 buried 55 workers of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), killing four and leaving five missing. Experts blame climate change for shifting snowfall patterns, which may have triggered the disaster.
The workers were clearing snow on the road between Badrinath and Mana when the avalanche struck. Some reports suggest it happened around noon, while others claim it hit at 5 am when the workers were sleeping in their tin shed. Rescue teams, facing heavy snowfall and poor communication, have managed to save 50 people. Efforts continue to locate the missing.
Changing Weather Patterns Raise Avalanche Risk
Uttarakhand’s winter was drier than usual, with only 6.9 mm of rainfall recorded between January 1 and February 15 just 9% of normal levels. But when rain finally arrived on February 27, the state received 37.1 mm in a single day 1,339% more than the usual amount for this time. The entire season’s expected rainfall came in just two days, followed by continuous snowfall on February 28.
Scientists say snowfall in the region has shifted from December-January to February-March due to global warming. Earlier, snow would fall on colder ground, allowing it to settle firmly. Now, as the ground is warmer, freshly fallen snow lacks stability, increasing avalanche risk.
More Avalanches Likely in the Future
This isn’t the first late-winter avalanche. In March 2021, an avalanche killed several workers near the Dhauliganga river. The same year, the Rishiganga disaster destroyed a hydropower plant and killed hundreds.
Environmental scientist SP Sati warns that such disasters will become more common as global warming disrupts snowfall patterns. Unlike December-January snowfall, which strengthens glaciers, the snow in February-March melts quickly, leading to glacier shrinkage and a higher likelihood of avalanches.
With climate change accelerating these shifts, experts fear more devastating avalanches in the coming years, posing a serious threat to lives, infrastructure, and the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.