The tragedy of a deadly avalanche in the French Alps, which claimed the lives of four Norwegians including 32-year-old Ingrid Velken Kverneland, has sparked criticism from Rannveig Velken, Ingrid's mother. The group involved were students at Alta Folkehøgskole and were participating in a 'Ski and Avalanche' course when the avalanche occurred on January 29, 2025. Despite the severity of the incident, which Rannveig Velken believes to be the worst accident in the history of Norwegian folk high schools, Norwegian authorities have not initiated any independent investigation into the matter.

Rannveig Velken is particularly concerned about the lack of stricter risk assessments at folk high schools, arguing that such institutions should be held to higher safety standards after an incident of this scale. The complaints against Alta Folkehøgskole regarding the avalanche were dismissed by the prosecutor, and Rannveig Velken finds it perplexing that the authorities have not taken proactive steps to analyze the circumstances of the tragedy. Given that these schools are responsible for the safety of students during such activities, the absence of a thorough investigation raises questions about accountability.

As the community mourns the loss of these young lives, the calls for stricter regulations and oversight of adventure tourism and educational programs that engage in potentially hazardous activities are likely to become louder. The incident serves as a wake-up call for both educational institutions and regulatory bodies to reassess guidelines in order to prevent future tragedies. Rannveig Velken's comments highlight a growing sentiment that safety standards in outdoor education must be prioritized and that families deserve to understand the factors leading to such fatal incidents.