Seven feared dead in Kashmir avalanche

Srinagar, Nov 19: Two army officers, five soldiers and three local porters are feared dead after being caught in a snow storm in Gurez sector, which witnessed about 75 per cent polling on Monday, Nov 16 in the assembly elections.

According to a police spokesman, on Monday, three local porters working with the Army went missing in Nawshar Nar Gurez sector in north Kashmir.

A seven-member team of 8 Bihar Regiment headed by a Major left the base camp to rescue the porters. However, when the team, reached Nawsher Nar, huge snow avalanche came down from the top and the team members were reportedly buried alive.

Bodies of two soldiers LNK Saiba Baskow and Seopy Chandar Kumar were recovered, while the search for the rest was on as rescue teams from other camps were also rushed to the area, which recently witnessed four to six feet of snowfall.

The missing soldiers, included a Lieutenant, he said.

UNI