Avalanche kills 11 soldiers in Kashmir

Srinagar/New Delhi, Feb 23 (IBNS) At least eleven Indian soldiers were killed and eight were still missing after their camps were swept away by avalanches in Ganderbal and Bandipora districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said on Thursday.

While one incident took place in Gurez area of Bandipora district killing eight soldiers, another occurred at Sonamarg of Ganderbal district claiming three lives.

More deaths are feared and owing to weather and heavy snowing even helicopters could not take off for rescue.

Rescue operation by road is also hampered owing to bad weather.

"There were 29 soldiers in the Dawar camp of Gurez and of them 13 were rescued. Eight bodies were recovered while eight are still missing," Indian Army spokesperson Colonel Jagdeep Dahiya told IBNS from New Delhi.

He said in Sonemarg three soldiers died after they were buried in the avalanche that struck around 4-45 pm Wednesday.

The Gurez tragedy occurred around 1015 pm in the same night.

Kashmir is witnessing a severe winter this season and heavy snowfall has disrupted life.