Bern, February 16: A severe snowstorm has wreaked havoc across various regions in Switzerland over the past few days. On Monday, a passenger train derailed due to the blizzard, injuring five people. The threat from the snowstorm is not over yet, as the meteorological department has issued alerts for the upcoming week.
Near the village of Goppenstein in southern Switzerland, a train carrying passengers was caught in the sudden snowstorm and derailed around 7 AM local time. The train was en route from Spiez to Brig when it went off the tracks shortly after 6:12 AM.
Approximately 80 passengers were on board, and rescue teams successfully evacuated 30 individuals, while helicopters and ambulances transported the injured to hospitals.
The Swiss meteorological department had issued a category 5 avalanche alert for large areas of the Alps, which is the highest level and considered rare, indicating a significant risk of natural avalanches.
Prior to this storm, several fatalities had already occurred in the Alps, and roads and rail lines remain closed. Authorities have stated that rail services will be suspended until Tuesday.
Earlier on Sunday afternoon, a 38-year-old snowboarder died in an avalanche in Davos, Switzerland. The Swiss national was snowboarding off-piste with a companion.
On Monday, the Graubünden cantonal police reported that the snowstorm occurred around 1:30 PM local time in the Parsenn ski area, under Schwarzorn. The companion immediately alerted rescue services, and efforts to locate the buried individual began, eventually leading to the recovery of the body.
On Friday, two British nationals were among three skiers killed in an avalanche in Val d’Isère, southeastern France, while with an instructor.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
