A Swedish skier was killed while his compatriot rescued after an avalanche hit the ski-resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district on Thursday, the police said.
The deceased skier was identified as Daniel Akesson, 25, a resident of Stockholm Sweden, while his compatriot rescued safely was identified as Benjamin Asbers.
According to a police official, the two skiers came under the impact of a heavy avalanche at Hapatkhod, Apharwat (on left side of Gulmarg cable car project), this morning.
One of them lost his life but another was evacuated safely, senior superintendent of police Baramulla, Imtiyaz Hussain, said.
The incident happened despite an avalanche advisory issued by the government in advance, according to an official source.
According to a report, the Swedish tourists left this morning for skiing in the “backcountry”, the area considered as “unsafe” for skiing.
“Usually, blasting is carried out at a ski-resort to make the area safe for skiers. However, the area where the blasting doesn’t take place is called backcountry and is prone to avalanches and considered dangerous for skiers,” said Showkat Ahmad, a skiing guide.
According to the report, Gulmarg has a vast area for skiing, but a skiing patrolling party comprises only 16 members, including eight from the cable car project and rest from the Tourism department.
“Since skiing patrolling party comprises of inadequate members, therefore they are able to make only ten percent of the skiing resort safe for skiers. The rest of the area is always dangerous for the skiers. The department should immediately increase the number of skiing patrolling parties so that maximum skiing area is made safe,” said the skiing guide, insisting not to be identified.
When contacted, director Tourism department Mehmood Shah said that the incident happened despite the skiers advised “well in advance” not to venture in the backcountry.
“We have a snow safety officer in place, who is an American citizen and who ensures to keep the ski resorts safe. After every snowfall, we trigger an avalanche in the green zone so that the area becomes safe for skiers and chances of accidents are minimum. We also issue an advisory regularly to skiers not to venture into backcountry and even classes are being conducted every Thursday on safety measures to be undertaken by the intending skiers,” he said.
But, he claimed, they have ignored the advisory this time and ventured into backcountry which proved fatal.
Meanwhile, an official said that as per information received from the snow and avalanche study establishment (SASE), a low-danger avalanche warning exists in higher reaches of Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kargil, Leh, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban, Kishtwar, Doda.
‘SKIER VENTURED INTO PROHIBITED AREA’
Meanwhile, the tourism department Thursday expressed deep shock over the death of a Swedish skier in an avalanche “outside Gulmarg ski area.”
Minister of tourism Tassaduq Mufti also expressed grief over the skier’s death and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members, an official spokesman saiD.
Daniel was evacuated and shifted to nearby hospital by the ski petrol team but was declared brought dead by doctors.
“At 13:30, ski patrol team received report of avalanche involving two persons. The ski-patrol arrived to the site immediately with the aid of snowmobiles. The ski petrol team shovelled out the skier who was unconscious and transported him to ski patrol headquarters where doctors evaluated the body and shortly pronounced him dead,” the spokesman said.
Since opening of phase II gondola in 2018, all guests have been informed about the avalanche dangers.
“The department through its snow safety officer Brian Newman stationed at Gulmarg had already issued avalanche advisory yesterday evening and warned that even a single skier can trigger avalanches,” the spokesman said.
The department has set up multiple points of information at Gulmarg gondola, through internet and through ski-petrol team to aware skiers about the advisory.
“The skiers were informed not to exit ski area. It appears the victims triggered the avalanche and the deceased was carried over a frozen waterfall estimated at 30 feet in height. This likely contributed to trauma which resulted in his death,” the spokesman said.
“It remains the endeavour of the department to have adequate safety arrangements in place for which Brian Newman was hired as snow safety officer for this year’s ski season. Brian is assisted by a team of 16 ski patrollers to carry out the rescue and also trigger avalanches within the inbound ski area to render the slopes safe.
The skier has ignored the advisory and has ventured into the outbound ski area where he was caught in an avalanche. The body was later on shifted to Tangmarg and will be transferred to Srinagar police control room where from it will be flown back to his home country,” the spokesman said.
The department would like to clarify that the accident occurred in the backcountry ski area which are the higher reaches of the Affarwath mountain and can be accessed by professional and advanced skiers only, the spokesman said. “Domestic tourists do not venture into this remote territory.”
‘WILL INQUIRE INTO LAPSES’
Meanwhile, the minister for disaster management Javaid Mustafa Mir on Thursday said in the legislative assembly that the government will enquire into the lapses and circumstances under which the authorities allowed the skiers to the avalanche prone area despite “advance warning.”
The minister expressed grief and sorrow over the tragic death of the Swedish skier and extended heartfelt condolences to his family on behalf of the state government.