14 dead in avalanche. Five rescued, two civilians trapped.

A medium danger avalanche warning had been issued by Divisional Disaster Management Authority, yesterday for snowbound areas of Keran, Machil, Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Gurez and Sonamarg. Today, the Medium Danger Avalanche warning has again been extended for next 24 hours, for higher reaches of Gulmarg, Naugam, Kaiyan, Keran, Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Gurez and Sonamarg areas. People staying in these snow bound area above 8000 feet have been advised not to venture in steep avalanche prone slopes.

Last night, an avalanche struck 109 Army Brigade, at Dawar Markote, (Gurez) at around 9 PM and reportedly 15 soldiers were trapped under the avalanche. The avalanche reportedly damaged around 25 army vehicles and 17 barracks of the army, inside the Brigade workshop. Rescue operations were launched jointly by the Army, Police and Civil authorities and eleven dead bodies and five injured have been recovered so far. The injured has been admitted at SDH Dawar. There is however, no civilian casualty, reported. In addition to the effort of the Army, SDM Gurez deployed one Snow clearance machine of Mechanical Engineering Deptt and also requisitioned machinery from HCC, as well, in order to supplement the rescue efforts. SDM Gurez and his team are personally associated with Army in rescue operations. Rescue operation is in progress, but it is heavily snowing.

An avalanche occurred last night at Sonamarg and three army men of Territorial Army Unit got trapped in the avalanche. Their bodies were recovered today morning and airlifted to Gund by Army choppers.

Meanwhile, two employees of Sonamarg Development Authority are reported missing. Reportedly, three employees had started on foot from Sonamarg to Ganderbal, yesterday at 11am but only one employee Bashir Ahmed R/o Ganiwan reached Ganderbal. The other two employees Syed Akbar Shah R/o Sumbal and Mohammed Rafiq R/o Ganiwan are reported to be missing. A rescue operation was launched immediately, by police patrol and civil authorities. One of the missing persons somehow managed to make a telephone call and had conveyed that they had taken shelter under Shitkari Bridge, near Sonamarg and were not in a position to move ahead, due to avalanches.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon requisitioned chopper of IAF for air rescue and the chopper took-off for Sonamarg, but had to turn back short of Kangan, due to inclement weather. Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal and SSP Ganderbal are presently camping at Gund and monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, army authorities have sent their para-troopers on foot and skies, so that the trapped persons can be rescued. Till reports came in last the rescue operations were in progress.

An appeal has been made to people living in avalanche prone areas not to venture out, especially during snowfall.

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