5 soldiers feared trapped in snow, roads to Valley shut

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 12

Five soldiers went missing in two separate snow-linked incidents near the Line of Control in north Kashmir, the Army said, as the region received the season’s first major spell of snowfall that shut two major highways leading in and out of the Valley.

Defence spokesman Rajesh Kalia said search and rescue operations were under-way at two locations in Bandipora and Kupwara districts to trace the missing soldiers.

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Kalia said two soldiers slipped down a slope in Nowgam sector of Kupwara while three others went missing from a forward post in Kanzalwan sub-sector of Gurez in Bandipora, both incidents taking place during heavy snowfall in last 24 hours.

While the exact nature of the incidents was not known, the Army’s forward posts in north Kashmir--many of them perched atop steep mountain ridges--have been routinely hit by avalanches in recent years leading to dozens of casualties.

The latest incidents have come at a time when Kashmir valley received the season’s first snowfall, which ended a nearly four-month-long dry spell in the region.

The downpour--moderate to heavy snowfall and rainfall--has blocked three key highways and roads, which lead in and out of Kashmir valley, snapping road connectivity with the region, an official at Traffic Control Room said.

The vehicular traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway, Srinagar-Leh highway and Mughal Road remained suspended for second consecutive day. While Srinagar-Jammu highway was shut due to landslides and slippery stretches, Srinagar-Leh stretch and Mughal Road, which provide alternate connectivity between Kashmir and Jammu divisions, will now be closed till April next year, the official said.

The precipitation that continued for two days has brought an end to a lengthy dry spell, which began almost four months ago and caused the water of the Jhelum to fall to record low levels, and also ignited hopes of the tourism industry.

Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, also received light snowfall during the night and early morning today. Gulmarg meadow resort, a famed skiing destination during winter months, had already received two feet snow, a Meteorological department official said.