5 soldiers trapped in avalanches in Ladakh's Batalik sector, 2 rescued

SRINAGAR: Five soldiers were trapped at an Army post after multiple avalanches hit Batalik sector in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir today, an Army official said.

"Unprecedented snowfall triggered multiple avalanches in Batalik Sector in which a post was buried. Five soldiers were trapped under the snow," an army official said.

Two of them have been rescued, while efforts are on to save the other three, he said.

"Rescue operation for the remaining three soldiers is in progress. Specially trained Avalanche Rescue Teams have been deployed to rescue them," the official said.

According to MeT department officials, Srinagar received 83.9 mm rain and snowfall since yesterday while Kokernag in south Kashmir received 69.9 mm of rains in that period.

Pahalgam, also in south Kashmir, recorded rainfall of 64.2 mm of rains since yesterday.

As many as 20 Army personnel including a major and a Junior Commissioned Officer lost their lives in three separate incidents of avalanches in Sonamarg area of Ganderbal, Gurez in Bandipora and Machhil in Kupwara districts in January this year.