12 Army jawans were killed while seven others were feared dead as avalanches struck two Army camps in Ganderbal and Bandipora districts of Kashmir Valley.
12 Army jawans were killed while seven others were feared dead as avalanches struck two Army camps in Ganderbal and Bandipora districts of Kashmir Valley.
As many as 13 jawans were rescued, two of them in an injured condition, from the debris of the avalanche that hit the 109 infantry Brigade in Dawar area of Gurez -- close to the Line of Control -- in Bandipora, Army officials said.
The avalanche struck at 9.15 PM last night but the information about the tragedy started trickling in this morning as Gurez Valley is cut off from rest of the country due to heavy snowfall during winter.
Seven jawans are still missing and feared to be trapped under the debris of the avalanche with little hopes of their survival.
Army spokesman Colonel Garewal said 29 jawans were buried under the avalanche. "Nine bodies have been recovered while 13 others were rescued. Seven personnel are still missing," he said.
Defence Spokesman Lt Colonel J S Brar said it was for the first time that an avalanche has hit the spot. "There are no records of an avalanche hitting this place earlier," he said.
The 109 Infantry Brigade, which guards the LoC in Gurez sector, is located in the foothills of the Valley. The recent heavy snowfall had made it avalanche-prone.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims.
The Chief Minister said he was sending his minister with a personal message of condolence to the Army's Srinagar based 15 Corps General Officer Commanding (GOC) Lt Gen S A Hasnain.
Another avalanche struck the camp of 162 Territorial Army in Sonamarg area of Ganderbal district last evening, killing three Army jawans, the spokesman said.
Colonel Garewal said the bodies of the deceased jawans have been recovered and the rescue-cum-search operation has been called off at Sonamarg. "There are no missing personnel in the Sonamarg incident," he said.
Heavy snowfall across Kashmir Valley, particularly in areas close to Line of Control, had prompted authorities to issue an avalanche warning for most areas lying close to the mountains.
Based on inputs provided by the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), the state disaster management cell had been issuing daily avalanche warnings for the past 14 days for areas located 6000 feet and above from sea level.
Meanwhile, four houses were damaged when they were struck by landslides and shooting stones triggered by heavy rains in border district of Poonch district, officials said today.
The landslide occurred due to heavy rains in which houses of Abdul Hamid, Mohammad Sharief, Mohammad Shakeel and Mohammad Shabir (all brothers) got completely damaged in Sailan village in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district last evening.
No loss of life was reported in the incident, they said.
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