Ten soldiers were killed as avalanches hit an Army post and a patrolling party in Gurez sector of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. While a junior officer and five soldiers were rescued amid continuous snowfall in the region, at least five soldiers remained untraceable in the mountainous region closer to the line of Control.
This is the second major tragedy in this cut-off part of the State in the last two days. On Wednesday, in two avalanche-related incidents one Army Major died in Sonamarg and four of a family died in at Budubagh village in the Tulail belt.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths of the ten soldiers.
“Deeply saddened at the death of our Veer jawans in avalanches in Kashmir. Have directed the authorities for speedy search and rescue ops,” the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also condoled the deaths. “Heartfelt condolences to families of our Armymen who have lost their lives in avalanches in J&K in the past two days,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, a high danger avalanche warning was again issued on Thursday for some avalanche-prone slopes of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) said that “high danger” warning was in place for avalanche prone slopes in Kupwara, Bandipora, Anantnag, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Budgam, Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar and Kargil districts of J&K.
High-danger avalanche warning for the same period has also been issued for avalanche prone slopes in Kullu, Chamba, lahaul and Spiti, Mandi, Kangra, Sirmour, Shimla and Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh.
“People are advised to keep clearing the snow deposition from rooftop of their houses/bunkers to avoid damages,” SASE said.
A Defence spokesman said that rescue operations in Gurez were conducted despite inclement weather and continuous snowfall. Police said the post was located at Manzgund, Neru area in the jurisdiction of Tulail police station.
The spokesman said that when the avalanche hit the Army post belonging to 51 Rashtriya Rifles late on Wednesday evening at least nine soldiers were in the post. While a Junior Commissioned Officer and six jawans were rescued, three soldiers remained missing. On Thursday morning, the bodies of three soldiers were retrieved.
The spokesman added that three more soldiers were killed when another avalanche hit a patrolling party in the same area late on Wednesday night. Their bodies were recovered on Thursday morning. later in the day, bodies of four more soldiers were recovered.
Superintendent of police Bandipora Zulfikar Azad said that ten bodies have been recovered and operation to trace five missing soldiers was continuing despite inclement weather.
Meanwhile, police sources said that 29 structures were damaged due to heavy snowfall in Budgam and Ganderbal districts. In Budgam 28 structures including 12 residential houses and a religious place were damaged due to heavy snow fall.