Nine persons were killed and two, including an eight-year-old, were rescued after the vehicle in which they were travelling was caught in an avalanche in a north Kashmir border area, police said on Saturday. A BRO engineer, identified as Mangla Prasad Singh, was also among those who died, reports IANS.
The avalanche occurred on Friday evening at 3,000-metre Sadhna Pass of Tangdhar region in Kupwara district on Friday evening.
A police officer said:
Nine dead bodies have been recovered by rescue teams. The dead include an engineer of the BRO (Border Roads Organisation) and eight locals.
The government also announced a compensation of Rs 12,600 each to two other people who were injured condition in the accident. Rescue teams rescued the child and a 50-year-old man from the avalanche debris on Friday evening.
Minister for Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation Reconstruction and Floriculture Javaid Mustafa Mir announced compensation under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) for the victims' families, the official said, reports PTI.
Mir expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of every possible support from the state government. He also issued directions to provide better medical facilities to the injured, according to a spokesperson, as reported by PTI.
Sadhna Pass, which mostly remains closed for six months in winter, connects Kupwara with border town of Karnah.
Rescue operations at the mountainous pass overlooking zigzag, treacherous roads are extremely difficult due to sub-zero temperatures.
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