The five-member team of locals had gone to Guchibal Behak for hunting of protected species on Saturday, says Sources
Bodies of three hunters, who went missing after embarking on hunting expedition on February 24, were retrieved on Thursday from the huge mounds of snow at the high-altitude area of Guchibal Behak in Lashkote forests of North Kashmir's Kupwara district.
Sources said the five-member team of locals had gone to Guchibal Behak for hunting of protected species on Saturday. However, they were buried when massive avalanche hit the area.
Two of the persons however managed to pull off a miraculous escape. Three others were swept away by mounds of snow in the area. The deceased were identified as Ghulam Mohammad Lone, Mohammad Altaf Mir and Bashir Ahmad Ganaie.
"Bodies of three persons who went missing on February 24 after they were hit by an avalanche at Guchibal Behak in north Kashmir's Kupwara district were recovered, on Friday by the joint rescue team of police, SDRF and Army," said a police spokesman.
Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, Javaid Mustafa Mir on Thursday announced ex gratia relief of Rs four lakh each in favour of the next of kin of the three persons who lost their lives in a snow avalanche.
Director, Disaster Management, Aamir Ali appealed the people living in avalanche prone areas and higher reaches, to adhere to avalanche warnings issued on daily basis through print and electronic media. He advised the people not to venture in these areas and take precautionary measures.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Kupwara has asked licensed gun owners to deposit their weapons in the respective police stations within five days.
The instructions came after the reports of three missing residents, who apparently was on a hunting expedition in the upper reaches of Lashikote forests when they got trapped in a snow avalanche and till date, their whereabouts are not known.
"The district administration said that hunting of protected and endangered species is unlawful and banned under the provisions of State Wild Life Protection Act and the person found violating would be dealt strictly," said an official spokesman.
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