Mediapersons had narrow escape in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 15: A group of media persons had a narrow escape when a snow avalanche missed their vehicles near Zojila on the Srinagar-Leh highway, which was declared open by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today after remaining closed for winter months.

A UNI correspondent who was among about six media persons, mostly photo-journalists and videographers, said they were on way to Zojila from Sonamarg when a huge snow avalanche came down from a hill. However, driver of the vehicle, leading the convoy, applied breaks at the right time, averting any accident. A small portion of the snow hit top of a vehicle without causing any damage. He said they could see BEACON officials removing avalanches from the road at three places from Sonmarg to Zojila.

The avalanches are occurring because of fresh snowfall in the area for the past one week. The newspersons taken by road to Zojila, could not cover the opening of the road by Mr Azad, who had come in a helicopter.

UNI