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| India-Pakistan |
| Avalanche death toll climbs to 17 in Kashmir |
| 2010-02-09 |
| SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the snow avalanche in India-controlled Kashmir Monday climbed to 17, all victims being Indian army troopers including an officer, while 17 others were injured, Indian army officials said. The rescue operation in the area has been suspended and all the trapped troopers caught underneath the avalanche are stated to have been evacuated. The avalanche hit an army camp from Indian Army's High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) around 11:00 a.m. local time in Khelanmarg area of Gulmarg, 65 km west of Srinagar, the summer capital of India-control Kashmir. "The rescue operations have been called off and all those trapped inside were rescued. The death toll in the incident rose to 17 and 17 others have sustained injuries. Rest all the people have been evacuated," said Lt. Col J. S. Brar, Indian army spokesman in Srinagar. Some 100 Indian army troopers undergoing training in the upper reaches had got trapped in the snow after hit by an avalanche. Soon after receiving the news the Indian army troopers along with police launched massive searches in the area to retrieve the trapped troopers. The injured are undergoing treatment in hospital. The HAWS houses around 350 trainees from different army units across India and the coaches here train them to fight in subzero temperatures. The troopers in the camp hit by the avalanche were part of HAWS Gulmarg. Meanwhile, the local authorities have said no tourists or civilians were trapped in the avalanche. Gulmarg, 50 km west of Srinagar city is the world famous ski resort in the region. During this period the area remains crowded with tourists and skiers. The area has been getting rave reviews from skiers all round the world for its virgin and less crowded peaks. The region's Disaster management office had issued high avalanche warnings Sunday evening for upper reaches including the Khelanmarg. It had advised people inhabiting upper areas to avoid venturing outside for the region was receiving heavy snowfall for the past three days. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Where's the big yawnie icon? |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2010-02-09 23:23 |