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 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 here, he said.

The dead included an officer, Lt. Prateek, and 14 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-feet of snow in certain areas.

This was one of the most tragic incidents in the ski resort which draws a large number of tourists every year, Col. Brar said.

 He said the troops had left Gulmarg at 0800 hrs and after traversing eight-km uphill reached Khilanmarg to set up the training camp when the avalanche struck the mountainous area.

 Last evening, Snow Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) had issued an avalanche warning and advised people living in high altitude areas not to venture out.

"Avalanche warning still exists in high altitude areas. People are cautioned not to venture out of their houses when it is snowing," SASE said. PTI