Indian Soldiers Killed and Missing after Kashmir Avalanche

Indian soldiers were killed and went missing on Monday under an avalanche that hit Kashmir, which is along the de facto border with Pakistan. After the incident, rescue teams got to work, to find the group of about 70troops that were directly hit.

There were about 350-400 troops at the army’s High Altitude Warfare School in Khilanmarg when the avalanche hit one portion of the facility at about 11am, sweeping away soldiers. Senior police officer Qayoom Manhas said that they recovered 17 bodies and rescued 53 troops about 6 hours afterward, which took so long due to incessant rain and snow, complicating rescue operations.

Manhas added that 17 of the 53 troops they rescued were in need of emergency medical care. The injured soldiers are being treated at the Srinagar base hospital, and some of them are in critical condition, while links to the camp have been cut off by the avalanche. Landslides and avalanches are frequent occurrences during the winter, and they block roads often, which leaves communities completely isolated.

Then on Tuesday another avalanche hit the area in Tangdhar, trapping 14 soldiers just after early morning. Army spokesman J.S. Brar said that their colleagues rescued them, but one of them died of his injuries later.

The region of Kashmir, which is bordered and claimed by both Pakistan and India, has been getting a lot of heavy snow lately. There are thousands of soldiers posted in the Himalayan region from both Pakistan and India. The two countries have been fighting for the land over two wars.