SRINAGAR: The death toll of security men and civilians killed in snow avalanches in 72 hours in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 20 with recovery of bodies of four missing soldiers from Gurez sector close to Line of Control (LoC) and killing of a civilian in fresh snow slide in Uri.
Defence spokesman in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia told Express that bodies of four soldiers, who were missing after their patrol was struck by avalanche in Gurez area on Wednesday, have been recovered.
He said concerted efforts of the specially equipped Avalanche Rescue Teams (ARTs) continued despite the inhospitable terrain and weather conditions led to recovery of mortal remains of all the soldiers, who were part of this patrol.
The soldiers, who were part of a group of 11 soldiers and were on patrol duty, came under massive snow avalanche near Niru in Gurez Valley.
Bodies of seven soldiers were recovered yesterday.
Three more soldiers had died on Thursday after their post at Mahazgund village in Gurez sector was hit by snow slide. Seven others including a JCO trapped in the snow were rescued by the army teams.
With the recovery of bodies of four missing soldiers today, the death toll of soldiers killed in three separate avalanches in Kashmir in 72 hours has risen to 15.
Earlier, on Wednesday, snow avalanche had hit some army barracks in an army camp at Sonamarg area in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
An army officer identified as Major Amit Sagar was killed in the avalanche while seven soldiers, who were trapped in the snow, were rescued.
All the upper reaches of the Valley including Gurez, Keran, Karnah, Tanghdar, Gulmarg, Yousuf, Sonamarg and Uri have witnessed heavy snowfall. The heavy snowfall has increased the risk of snow avalanches.
In a fresh incident, a man was buried under snow after being hit by avalanche in Gawas village, Uri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Police and locals immediately launched a rescue operation and managed to rescue the man identified as Fatah Mohammad Mughal, 60, from the snow in critical condition. He was evacuated to hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Earlier, on Wednesday four members of a family were killed after their house was hit by a snow slide in Gurez area.
An official said avalanche alert has been issued for upper reaches of the Valley.
“People living in upper reaches have been asked to stay indoors and not to venture out in snowfall. They have also been advised to clear snow from their rooftops,” he said.
The official said men and machinery has been kept on alert mode to deal with any exigency.
Meanwhile, army today identified the 15 soldiers killed in three snow avalanches in the Valley.
The deceased have been identified as Major Amit Sagar R/o Janakpuri, New Delhi; Naib Subedar Aram Singh Gurjar R/o Karoli, Rajasthan; Havaldar Vijay Kumar Shukla R/o Murena, MP; Nk Ajit Singh R/o Azamgarh, UP; Sepoy Anand Gawal R/o Akola, Maharashtra; Sepoy Azad Singh R/o Farukhabad, UP; Sepoy Devender Kumar Soni R/o Shahdol, MP; Sepoy Elaverson B R/o Thanjaur, TN; Sepoy Nagaraju Mamidi r/o Vijaaynagar, AP; Sepoy Samundare Vikas R/o Beed, Maharashtra; Sepoy Sandeep Kumar R/o Hassan, Karnataka; Sepoy Sanju Suresh Khandare R/o Akola, Maharashtra; Sepoy Sundar Pandi R/o Madurai, TN; Sepoy Sunil Patel R/o Panchmahal, Gujarat and Cfn Ankur Singh R/o Jahzzar, Haryana.