Avalanche kills 17 jawans in Kashmir

At least 17 army soldiers, including an officer, were killed and 17 were injured when a snow avalanche hit their camp in Jammu & Kashmir at 11 am on Monday. Around 80 trainees of the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) were having tea after a training exercise at the Khilanmarg heights at an altitude of 3000 metres when a snow storm followed by an avalanche rolled over the tent and trapped all soldiers.

Though rescue operations began immediately, the deaths, including that of lieutenant Prateek, could not be avoided. “An officer and 16 soldiers lost their lives. Two suffered minor injuries and 15 were given medical aid. Around 50 people have been rescued,” said lieutenant colonel JS Brar, defence spokesman at Srinagar.

There has been massive snowfall in the area for two days and the accumulation of over six feet of snow in Gulmarg had raised the threat of an avalanche. “Bad weather and snowfall hampered rescue operations,” said Shakeel Beag, senior superintendent of police, Baramulla.     

There are more than 401 people enrolled in HAWS. It is the only training establishment of the Indian Army located in a high altitude and counter-insurgency operations area. The Snow Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) has issued avalanche warnings in different areas and advised people to avoid movement during snowfall. According to Aamir Ali of disaster management in Kashmir, Sonamarg, Gagangir, Bhimbat, Drass, Batalic, Dhudi and SM hill fall under high danger avalanche zones. “Khilanmarg, Uri, Baaz, Razdan top, Z Gali Keran and other areas fall under medium danger zones”, he said.