Fresh snowfall hampers recovery of missing soldiers-porters bodies

Srinagar, Jan 28 (UNI) Fresh snowfall on the upper reaches has dashed the hopes of early recovery of bodies of soldiers and porters who were buried under huge snow avalanche in Uri sector early this month.

The bodies would be recovered only after the snow melts next month, official sources said.

They said success still eludes army authorities to recover bodies of soldiers and porters who were buried under huge snow avalanche on January 8, at Chota Kazi Nar Dhar near the Line of Control (LoC).

Besides more than 15 feet of snow already accumulated in the tragedy area due to heavy snowfall since early this morning which has hampered the operation to recover the bodies, they said.

The rescue teams, who are camping in an army post, some distance away from the avalanche site could not move forward owing to bad weather and heavy snowfall.

To avoid any further casualty, the authorities have decided to undertake the operation to recover the bodies of porters and soldiers once there is no danger of further avalanches, they said.

More than a dozen porters and soldiers were buried alive under snow avalanche in Uri sector on January eight. However, only three soldiers could be rescued in an injured condition.

Though the chance of their (soldiers and porters) survival is almost zero but they still are missing in the records as they cannot be declared dead untill their bodies are recovered, officials said.

The defence authorities have meanwhile, sanctioned Rs one lakh while state government Rs 50,000 as exgratia relief in favour of the next of kin of the missing porters.

UNI BAS SHB KP1642