Avalanche in J&K’s Gurez sector; five soldiers missing

Earlier in January, fourteen soldiers died in twin avalanches that hit an Army camp and a patrol party in Gurez sector. (file photo/ANI)

Five soldiers are missing in north Kashmir’s Gurez and Nougam sectors after avalanches got triggered due to the heavy snowfall. The army has begun rescue operations and pressed specialised teams into operation.

“Two soldiers slipped down the slope in Naugam sector and three soldiers went missing from a forward post in Kanzalwan sub – sector (Gurez Sector) of Kupwara district during heavy snowfall in last 24 hours,’’ Defense spokesman, Col Rajesh Kalia said.

He said that search and rescue operations are underway. The upper reaches of Kashmir Valley has been receiving heavy snowfall from Monday and there is prediction from the MET department that more snowfall is expected in the upper areas of Kashmir.

On Sunday evening, both MET department and Army’s – Snow Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) had warned about avalanches in the upper regions of the Valley, especially on the Line of Control (LoC) where army is deployed to keep an eye on the infiltration.

The Army has a full-fledged unit of the SASE in Kashmir with 40 observatories in various locations. The SASE regularly issues warnings and alerts to Army formations and units deployed in high-altitude areas and along the LoC. Located around 150 km from Srinagar, Gurez is a valley nestled among high mountains in Bandipore district.

It is connected to rest of Kashmir by a road link that passes at an altitude of over 11,000 feet. For the most part of the winter, it is cut off from rest of the state due to heavy snowfall. Gurez also falls on the LoC and is a preferred infiltration route for militants.

The Nowgam Sector is close to the LoC and receives heavysnowfall during winters; however, army has to remain alert in the sector as this is mostly used by infiltrators to sneak into the Valley.