Six Soldiers Killed in 4 Avalanche Strikes in J&K, 59 Dead in PoK

Avalanche strikes Army post in J&K, three soldiers killed and one missing. Avalanche also hits LoC BSF Camp.

Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Six soldiers and as many civilians were killed in four avalanches in Jammu and Kashmir since Monday night, police and defence sources said.

At least 59 people were killed, with several missing after avalanches hit Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) over the last 24 hours, senior government officials said on Tuesday, 14 January, reported Reuters.

An avalanche hit an Army post in Machil sector along the Line of Control on Tuesday, trapping five soldiers. A rescue operation was launched and four soldiers traced.

Another avalanche struck a village in Gagangir area of Ganderbal district on Monday night in which five civilians were killed while four others were rescued, police said.

Another civilian died in Gurez of Bandipora district.

In the fourth incident, a 29-year-old BSF jawan was killed and six others were rescued after an avalanche hit their post along the LoC in Kashmir's Naugam sector at 8:30 pm on Monday.

Officials identified the deceased as constable Ganga Bara of the 77th battalion of the force.

“There were a total of seven troops deployed in the affected area. While six were safely rescued, constable Ganga Bara could not be revived even after much effort,” a senior officer of the border guarding force said.

The jawan hails from the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal and had joined the BSF in 2011. He was the sole breadwinner of the family that lives in a closed tea garden, an official of the Border Security Force said.

Over 45 houses were fully destroyed.

Rescue teams shifted 42 injured to various hospitals but the officials faced hurdles in reaching the affected people due to blocked roads.

The Border Security Force (BSF) is deployed along the LoC under the operational command of the Army as part of guarding the front against Pakistan.

(With inputs from PTI, Reuters)