This is the dramatic moment ice flows surge down a hillside as snow thaws in northern India.

Heavy rain and snowfall wreaked havoc across many parts of Himachal Pradesh on February 26, causing significant disruptions, including the blocking of more than 200 roads and widespread power outages.

Some 5ft of snow had accumulated in many areas of Lahaul-Spiti in under 24 hours. In Kain village, Tidi Panchayat of Lahaul Valley, a large mass of ice fell from the hillside.

Footage shows a surge of snow flowing through the area following the incident on Thursday, February 27.

Several districts, including Kullu, Kangra, Chamba, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti, have reported extensive damage due to the relentless rain and snow.

All educational institutions in Lahaul-Spiti have been closed.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed authorities to take urgent action to mitigate the crisis.

In Uttarakhand, eight people have been confirmed dead after an avalanche struck on the same day.

The Indian Army reported that over 50 individuals were buried under snow and debris, with four succumbing to their injuries. The other four were recovered on Sunday.

An avalanche is a sudden, fast-moving mass of snow, ice, and debris that can be triggered by various factors, such as heavy snowfall or an earthquake. Avalanches are extremely dangerous, as they can bury people, vehicles, and entire villages, causing severe injury or death within seconds.

The deadliest avalanche in recorded history occurred in 1970 in Peru, when an avalanche triggered by an earthquake buried the town of Yungay, killing around 22,000 people.