Dozens have survived being buried by an avalanche in a remote area of the Himalayas in northern India.
The avalanche struck a construction camp near Mana village on the border with Tibet last week, burying workers under snow and debris.
Rescuers recovered 46 people from the site after the avalanche hit in the early morning.
Tragically, eight workers were killed and all bodies were recovered.
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The survivors were trapped for over two days in sub-zero temperatures before being rescued. The army used drone detection systems and rescue dogs to assist in the operation.
“After three days of relentless efforts, the joint rescue operation by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), army, and National Disaster Response Force successfully concluded,” the ITBP said in a statement.
Construction worker Anil, in his late 20s, described his rescue as “like a dream”, and he believed there was no chance of survival.
“It was as if God’s angels had come to save us,” he said from his hospital bed.
Another survivor, Dhan Singh Bisht, credited the quick action of the relief teams for saving his son and nephew.
Initial reports indicated 55 workers were on site, but authorities later revised the number to 54 after one worker was found to have safely left before the avalanche hit.
The workers were employed by the Border Roads Organisation and were living in steel containers, which were considered safer than tents.
At the time of the avalanche, many workers were asleep or using makeshift toilets.
“The container in which we were in began to slide,” Anil recalled.
“We saw piles of snow all around and the roof bending inwards.”
With temperatures dropping to minus 12°C at an altitude of over 3,200 meters, the workers endured extreme conditions.
Avalanches and landslides are common in the region, particularly during winter.