No trace of Norwegian woman skier, missing in Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 18: There was still no trace of a Norwegian woman skier who was missing since January 8 in snowbound Gulmarg heights in Jammu and Kashmir.

Success still eludes the rescue teams from Army, High Altitude Warfare School, police and tourism who are searching the entire belt to locate Francesca Rongne, official sources said.''We could not trace her in the heights, hosting fifth National Winter Games-2008 from today,'' the sources said adding that besides snow storm and avalanches in the area, there was also a threat of wild animals, who had come down from the upper forests because of 10 feet to 16 feet snow.

This is for the second time that Francesca Rongne went missing in Gulmarg during the past two years as last year she returned after taking shelter in a snow cave for several days following snow storm.

The body of the skier could be traced only when the snow melts later this month, sources said.

UNI