Avalanches hit Indian army post, patrol in Kashmir; 6 killed
ix Indian army soldiers were killed when avalanches hit a military post and a patrol along the highly militarized Line of Control that separates the Indian and Pakistani-held portions of the Himalayan region of Kashmir, the army said Thursday.
Indian army spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia said a massive overnight avalanche buried a military post manned by 10 soldiers in the Gurez sector. He said despite hostile weather, rescue operations were launched and an officer and six soldiers were rescued from the buried post. The bodies of three soldiers were recovered.
Kalia said another avalanche swept away an army patrol in the same area. Three bodies were recovered and rescuers were searching for other missing soldiers.
"The area continues to receive heavy snowfall, but our coordinated rescue operations are in progress," Kalia said.
