Norwegian woman skier missing yet again in Gulmarg

Srinagar, Jan 10 (UNI) A massive rescue operation has been launched in Gulmarg heights in north Kashmir to trace a Norwegian woman skier, missing since January 8.

This is for the second time skier from Norway Francesca Rongne went missing in Gulmarg during the past two years. Last year, she had a close encounter with death after she was caught in a snow storm but was rescued after several days.

Official sources said rescue teams from police, Army and tourism department have been rushed to different directions to locate the missing skier.

They said the skier checked in a hotel at Gulmarg on January 8 at 1430 hrs but left after 15 minutes for skiing, leaving behind her belongings in the hotel room.

She did not disclose anything to hotel management where she was going, sources said adding that a missing report was lodged in police station, Gulmarg yesterday when she did not return following heavy snowfall on upper reaches. However, a tourist from Australia said she told him that she was going for skiing in the upper reaches and would be back in the evening.

Rongne also went missing last year under similar circumstances when the entire belt experienced heavy snowfall followed by snow storm and avalanches.

However, she was rescued from a cave in which she had taken shelter for few days.

UNI BAS BDP KN1558