Five civilians were killed and five others are missing after two trucks they were travelling in came under an avalanche in Khardungla Top in the mountainous Ladakh region on Friday, officials said.
The avalanche took place at around 7 a.m, news agency PTI quoted an unnamed Border Roads Organisation official.
A police officer confirmed to Greater Kashmir that five bodies have been recovered from the avalanche site and the rescue operation is on to trace other missing persons.
Deputy inspector general of police VK Birdi said three of the five bodies have been identified so far and they are all residents of Zanskar.
He said a rescue operation was carried out jointly by the police, army, state disaster response force and other agencies.
“The operation will be halted for the night. The rescuers have to look after their safety also. The site of the avalanche is a difficult terrain,” Birdi said.
On Friday evening, a spokesman of the ministry of defence released a statement which said two civilian trucks carrying 10 civilians came under an avalanche of approximately 20 feet depth, some 800 meters from Khardungla Top towards South Pullu.
“The message of this unfortunate incident was given to the army detachment at Khardungla Top at approximately 07.45hrs by two civilian drivers. Immediately on receipt of this information, all resources of the fire and fury corps were activated. The army teams deployed near the incident site swiftly moved and commenced the search and rescue operations,” the statement read, adding: “Troops deployed at south Pullu and north Pullu were also moved to the incident site. Simultaneously, the army aviation helicopters were pressed into action to move the highly-trained avalanche rescue teams of the army called ‘avalanche panthers teams’ from Siachen base camp and north Pullu.”
These teams are equipped with specialised avalanche rescue equipment, medical equipment and avalanche rescue dogs, which are being utilised in the search and rescue operations, the statement further read, adding: “the army aviation helicopters were also used to move the deep search radars which can detect human beings through snow. Medical teams along with doctors and nursing assistants, heating blankets, medical equipment and warm clothing were moved to the avalanche site from the army hospital at Hunder”.
Lieutenant general YK Joshi, GOC of fire and fury corps personally carried out an aerial assessment of the incident and issued necessary directions for the smooth conduct of the rescue operation, the statement read.
GOVERNOR, OTHERS GRIEVED
Governor Satya Pal Malik expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the snow avalanche at Khardungla Top.
In his message, the governor has prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families in their hour of grief.
The governor announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs five lakh for the next of the kin of those killed in the avalanche, an official spokesman said.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the Khardungla Top avalanche.
They urged the administration to expedite the rescue operation and ensure all support to the families of the deceased, a National Conference spokesman said in a statement, adding: “Both Farooq and Omar urged the incumbent governor’s administration to gear up its men and machinery to meet any eventuality in wake of heavy snowfall predicted by the local Met office”.
Peoples Conference chairman and former minister Sajad Gani Lone expressed grief over the deaths in the avalanche.
Lone urged the administration to expedite the rescue operation and ensure all support to the families of the deceased.
(With inputs from PTI)