Two Polish skiers killed in avalanche in Gulmarg of Kashmir

Two Polish skiers were killed while 19 other foreigners from Russia and Poland and two local guides were rescued on Wednesday as a snow avalanche hit the Affarwat peak in the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in northern Kashmir

The two foreigners killed were identified as Krzysltof, 43 and Adam Grzech, 45, whose bodies have been transported to the hospital for medico-legal formalities.

The meteorological department in Kashmir had issued the advisory that heavy snowfall may cause avalanches in the vulnerable areas in higher reaches and had advised people not to venture out in these areas till February 1 as the possibility of snow avalanches had increased.


The Jammu and Kashmir police in Baramulla informed that on Wednesday morning, three teams comprising 21 foreign nationals and two local guides went to Affarwat of Gulmarg for skiing. At about 12.30 pm a massive avalanche hit Hapat Khud area of Kongdori where these skiing teams got trapped. On receiving the information J&K police in Baramulla mobilised joint rescue teams of police and the tourism department and reached the site of the avalanche.

“During the rescue operations, 19 foreign nationals and two local guides have been rescued. Unfortunately two foreign nationals lost their lives in the avalanche, and their dead bodies have also been recovered which have been shifted to hospital for medico legal procedures," police in Baramulla informed. Senior police officers reached the spot and were monitoring the situation till the rescue operations were called off.

The J&K Disaster Management Authority issued a fresh warning stating that avalanche with low danger level is likely to occur 2400 to 2800 meters above sea level in Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara and Baramulla districts in next 24 hours. They advised the people living in these areas not to venture out in avalanche prone areas till further orders.

On January 29, a woman and a teenage girl were killed in a avalanche in Kargil district of Ladakh. On January 13, two non local workers were killed in an avalanche in Sonamarg area of Ganderbal district in central Kashmir.