By IANS
Srinagar : Two Indian Army men have been killed after an avalanche hit their camp in north Kashmir frontier Machhil area of Kupwara district.
The police said bodies of Lance Naik Basco Jacob and Sepoy Ganesh Sar of the JAK Light Infantry were recovered after a massive rescue operation was launched Tuesday night.
North Kashmir has been experiencing heavy snowfall in the past three days, which has led to grave threat of avalanches in the hilly areas.
The state government has alerted the district authorities to gear up to face any eventuality.
“Active westerly disturbances over Jammu and Kashmir are likely to cause heavy snow and rains in the coming 48 hours (starting Wednesday evening). We have written to all the district administrations to keep their manpower and machinery ready to face any eventuality,” Amir Ali, project coordinator, disaster management Kashmir, said here.
Authorities here said the north Kashmir mountain resort of Gulmarg received over four feet of snow in the past three days, and it was heavily snowing in Kupwara Wednesday afternoon.
Heavy snow and rains have led to closure of the strategic Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. A senior traffic department officer said efforts were on to clear the stranded passenger buses and trucks carrying essential supplies to the valley.