17 armymen killed in Kashmir avalanche
8 Feb : In the worst-ever snowslide in recent years in Kashmir, 17 soldiers were killed and an equal number injured when an avalanche slammed into them during their winter warfare training on steep slopes of a ski resort, 70-km from Srinagar, on Monday.
The avalanche came hurtling down on the 60-strong combat troops as they were scaling the icy walls of high-altitude Khilanmarg peak in near zero visibility, police and army said.
Seventeen jawans were buried alive under tonnes of snow, 17 were extricated while 26 were rescued, army spokesman Col. J S Brar said.
The injured, all in serious condition, were admitted to the army hospital in Srinagar, he said.
The dead included an officer, Lt. Prateek, and 16 other jawans, all from Army’s prestigious High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), Col. Brar said.
The 60 were part of a group of 350 soldiers selected for advanced winter warfare course run by the Gulmarg-based school, Col Brar said.
It has been snowing heavily in tourist resort Gulmarg and its surrounding areas in the past few days with reports pouring in of dumping of six-foot of snow in certain areas.
Snow Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) had issued an avalanche warning on Sunday evening and advised people living in high altitude areas not to venture out as the area was getting heavy snowfall.
“Avalanche warning exists in the high altitude areas for the next 24 hours. People living in the areas are cautioned to avoid movement during snowfall and not to venture out in avalanche prone areas,” SASE said.
Areas where high danger avalanche warning exists included Sonamarg, Gagangir, Bhimbat, Drass, Batalic, Dhudi and S M Hills in Kargil district.
Medium danger of avalanche warning exists in areas including Khilanmarg, Uri, Baaz, Razdan Top, Z-Gali, Keran, Furkian top, Machil, Sadna Top, Urez, Niru, Baruab and Chowkibal in Kupwara and Baramulla districts of North Kashmir.
Areas with low danger avalanche warning include both sides of Jawahar Tunnel, the gateway to Kashmir, and its adjoining areas on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
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