Two killed after glacier slides down in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 4 (UNI) At least two tourists from Jammu were killed when a glacier slid down in Sonmarg, about 90 km from here on the Srinagar-Leh national highway.

A police spokesman today said three others were, however, rescued by the police.

He said a group of tourists were walking over the glacier when it slid down yesterday afternoon.

Spokesman said rescue operation was immediately launched by the police and locals.

However, two tourists Himesh Arora and Tarun Kapoor of Jammu died before they could be rescued.

The three rescued were identified as Nitish Goel, son of Gauri Shanker, resident of A/G 119 Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, Nawal Kishore, son of Nitish Kumar Gupta, resident of A/G 402 Shalimar Bagh and Neha Sarin, wife of Rahul Sarin, resident of Goni khan Srinagar.

Official sources said a number of glaciers in the area had start melting due to unprecedented warm weather.

UNI