Tragedy struck Kashmir after seven people including five cops were buried alive in the mounds of snow after an avalanche swept away their post near Jawahar Tunnel on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in the Anantnag district of south Kashmir.

Rescuers, however, pulled off a miracle when they extricated three cops alive 12 hours after they were buried under the blocks of snow near the avalanche site.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening when a massive avalanche swept away a police post on side of Jawahar Tunnel, burying 11 under the tonnes of snow.

Though police and district administration launched a search and rescue mission to locate those missing, strong wind and heavy snow hampered the operation. Battling inclement weather rescue teams later managed to reach the spot and launch the op.

"Three people were rescued. One of them was rescued on Thursday evening itself and two were rescued in the morning. However, seven bodies were also retrieved," said Mohammad Younis, district development commissioner, Anantnag.

Director of Disaster Management department Aamir Ali said of the seven people three are policemen, two are firemen of fire and emergency services and two non-locals. "One police personnel is still missing," he said.