Five soldiers rescued from avalanche in Kashmir's Macchil sector die

While 20 soldiers including an officer have died in avalanches in Kashmir over the past six days, five civilians were also killed in similar incidents in the valley.

The high altitude areas of Kashmir valley experienced heavy snowfall last week. | PTI File Photo

SRINAGAR: The five army men, who were rescued from snow in Machil sector close to Line of Control (LoC) two days back, succumbed to injuries at army hospital in Srinagar on Monday, taking the death toll of soldiers killed by snow in Kashmir to 20.

“The five Army men, who were rescued on Saturday after being trapped under snow following the caving-in of track in Machil sector on North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, were evacuated in army helicopter to military hospital in Srinagar this afternoon,” defence spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia told Express.

He said unfortunately all the five soldiers succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

The five, who were part of patrol party, had been trapped in snow for more than four hours after the track they were travelling in caved-in in Gurez on Saturday morning.

They were rescued after intense efforts by specially equipped Army’s Avalanche Rescue Teams (ARTs).

However, they could not be airlifted to army hospital in Srinagar for two days as no helicopter sorties could take place due to inclement weather, foggy weather conditions and continued snowfall.

Colonel Kalia said the army aviation pilots had made several attempts to evacuate the five rescued soldiers to army hospital for specialized treatment.

With the death of five soldiers, the death toll of army men killed by snow in Valley has risen to 20.

Earlier on Wednesday last, 14 soldiers were killed after two massive snow avalanches hit an army post and patrol party in Gurez sector of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Their mortal remains were brought to Srinagar by Air Force helicopters today, defence spokesman said.

He said their bodies could not be evacuated earlier because of the inclement weather and snowfall in Gurez.

On Wednesday also, an army officer Major Amit Sagar was killed and seven others rescued after a snow avalanche hit some barracks of army at Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

Five civilians including four members of a family were also killed in two separate snow avalanches in Gurez and Uri in North Kashmir last week.

Kashmir witnessed record snowfall this year.

According to weather department official, the snowfall this year has broken the record of last over two decades.

He said it was the heaviest snowfall recorded in the valley since 1992.

“We had witnessed major snowfall in 1992 and 2006 but the present snowfall has broken the record of last 25 years,” added the official.