One Army officer was killed when an avalanche hit an Army camp in Sonamarg area in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The dead body of the soldier has been recovered, officials said, adding that two officers trapped initially have been successfully rescued.
One of the soldiers, a Major ranked officer, is critical while the other is fine, they said. More details are being ascertained.
In another incident, an avalanche also claimed the lives of four members of a family as it buried their house in Gurez sector. The avalanche struck at Badoogam village in Tulail area of Gurez in the wee hours and buried the house of Mehraj-ud-Din Lone, a police official said.
He said the house collapsed under the debris of the avalanche resulting in death of 55-year-old Lone, his wife Azizi (50), 22-year-old son Irfan and daughter Gulshan (19).
Another of Lone's son, Reyaz Ahmad, was rescued by the authorities and admitted to a hospital, the official said.
The incident comes as a grim reminder of February 2015, when 10 soldiers from the 19 Madras Regiment - including Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad - perished after being buried under an avalanche in the Northern Glacier.
Meanwhile, the authorities in Kashmir have issued avalanche warning for higher reaches of the Valley following fresh snowfall yesterday and advised people to stay away from the mountains and foothills.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan', considered the harshest period of winter, when the chances of snowfall are the most and the temperature drops considerably.
The Valley has already experienced heavy snowfall twice during this period so far, first one on January 6 and then on January 16, throwing life out of gear on both occasions.
'Chillai-Kalan', which, began on December 21 last year, ends on January 31. The cold however, is supposed to continue even after that. The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold).
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