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2025 Archive Index - All Editions

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Knaresborough man, 27, died after Alps avalanche, inquest hears - BBC

A 27-year-old man died after he was buried by an avalanche at a French Alps ski resort, an inquest heard. Joshua Byers, from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, was near the roadside in Val Thorens when he was swept up and carried 15 metres (50ft) by snow on 17 April. Mr Byers was taken to hospital in Grenoble and died later that evening. An inquest into Mr Byers' death, which opened at Northallerton Coroner's Court on Monday, was told the provisional cause of death was asphyxia. Heavy snow had hit the Alps in the days prior to Mr Byers' death, with the weather impacting local power supplies and road and rail travel. Coroner Jon Heath adjourned the inquest to a future date at the same venue.
Source ... (BBC)

Avalanche hits people displaced in Kashmir - 21 rescued, 1 dead

MANSEHRA: A man was killed and around two dozen others were rescued after an avalanche struck them while crossing over in Jalkhad area of Kaghan Valley on Sunday after escaping India shelling in Azad Jammu Kashmir. “These people had left Shahdara area (AJK) and entered Kaghan Valley via Noori Top following Indian shelling in Azad Kashmir, but one of them, who was buried alive under the avalanche, died,” Shafiullah Khan Gandapur, the district police officer, told Dawn. He said a group of 22 people, mostly traders from different parts of AJK, had crossed into Kaghan Valley through the Noori Top area when eight of them were trapped under an avalanche in Jalkhad (Kaghan Valley).
More ... (Dawn)

26 Avalanche Sites Cleared to open Manali–Sarchu Road

Leh, May 12, 2025: The snow clearance on the Manali–Sarchu road (NH-03) is undertaken. While the route remains accessible up to Darcha (Km 144.92) throughout the year, the stretch beyond remains closed during the winter months owing to heavy snowfall and challenging terrain. The route passes through Baralacha La, one of the highest motorable passes in the Zanskar Range, located at an altitude of 16,043 feet. This region is known for its persistent vulnerability to avalanches, landslides, and accumulation of deep snow. During the current season, snow walls were recorded at heights of up to 50 feet. A total of 26 avalanche-prone sites were cleared by BRO teams to facilitate safe movement along the route. Snow clearance operations on the Darcha–Sarchu stretch commenced on 21 March 2025 and were completed by 10 May 2025
More ... (Voice of Ladakh)

Massive Avalanche Above Everest Base Camp - Video

There were no reports of injury or death surrounding this avalanche captured on camera this season at the Everest Base Camp, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t intimidating. Shared by Angbabu Sherpa, the avalanche roars overhead creating a massive cloud of snow above the camp. Avalanches aren’t an uncommon sight on and around Mount Everest. Many occur in areas free of climbers while others can be seriously deadly. Some are particularly devastating, like the 2015 avalanches that resulted from a powerful earthquake in Nepal.
More... (Unofficial Networks)

Spring Avalanche Claims One Life Near Simplon Dorf, Switzerland

A 29-year-old Swiss backcountry skier was killed Sunday morning, May 11, after being swept away by an avalanche while descending a high alpine couloir near the Lagginhorn in the Simplon region of the Valais/Walliser Alps, according to the cantonal police of Valais/Wallis. The fatal incident occurred at approximately 8:15 a.m. on Sunday morning as two backcountry skiers made their way down from the summit of the Lagginhorn, a 4,010-meter (13,156-foot) peak popular with alpine adventurers. The pair had set off early from the Simplon region, a remote and rugged area in southern Switzerland known for its spectacular terrain.
More... (Snowbrains)