Omar Abdullah expresses grief over death of soldiers in avalanche

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today expressed his "heart felt condolences" to the families of soldiers killed in two avalanches that struck the Kashmir Valley today.

"Heart felt condolences to the families of those soldiers who lost their loved ones in the avalanches today (in) Kashmir," Omar wrote on micro-blogging website Twitter.

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.

At least 11 Army jawans were killed and several others feared trapped when avalanches struck two Army camps in Ganderbal and Bandipora districts of the Valley today.

The first avalanche struck the workshop of 109 infantry brigade of Army posted at Dawar in Gurez area of Bandipora district during the intervening night in which eight soldiers were killed.

Three jawans were killed in another avalanche that struck their camp in Sonamarg area of Ganderbal district.