More than two dozen stranded passengers were safely rescued by the jawans of the Indian Army and GREF near Chowkibal-Tangdhar road amid fresh spell of snowfall in the last 24 hours in North Kashmir district of Kupwara.
The passenger vehicles were stuck on the Tangdhar-Chowkibal axis, following which the nearest Army unit was alerted and a rescue operation launched.
According to local reports, some of the passengers stranded in the area had a narrow escape as their vehicles were stuck in the avalanche prone areas.
According to a Defence spokesman, the civilians, which included a child, were evacuated to safety by the Army rescue team.The spokesman said two rescue teams comprising avalanche rescue teams from the Indian Army and a team of GREF were mobilized for rescuing the civilians who were stuck in their
vehicles.
"Despite adverse weather conditions compounded by twin avalanches, 14 civilians were rescued and brought to Neelam and 16 civilians to NC pass, which is also commonly known as Sadhna pass. All the rescued civilians were provided food, medical care and shelter for the night", defence spokesman added. He said twelve vehicles were later retrieved during the day on 18 January, post avalanche and snow slides clearance from the road. GREF played a difficult but stellar role in snow clearance amidst dangerous conditions.