Two avalanches hit Gurez Sector, 10 soldiers killed: Army

JAMMU: Ten army personnel were killed while four others are reported to be missing, after an avalanche struck an army camp and a patrol party in Gurez sector of North Kashmir. The incident took place at the 51RR camp of the Army in Mazgund Neeru area of Gurez, which is near the Line of Control, late Wednesday evening. J&K police and the Army have confirmed that 10 dead bodies have been recovered, while four others were still missing.

During the rescue operations, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and six soldiers were saved, according to an army official spokesperson.

An army patrol moving towards a post went missing after an avalanche strike in the same area. Gurez, which has a population of around 40,000 people, remains cut off from the Valley for at least five months in winter due to bad weather. Currently, more than seven feet of snow has accumulated in Gurez. The metrological department has predicted more snowfall and warned of avalanches and have urged people to stay in-doors, especially in the higher reaches.

“The area continues to receive heavy snowfall. Braving inhospitable weather conditions, coordinated rescue operations are in progress in which ten bodies could be recovered. Search operationscontinue,” said a Srinagar-based defence spokesperson.