Extreme snowfall amounts over the last several weeks have caused several avalanches in Kashmir. Two of those avalanches have killed at least sixteen Indian soldiers. There are still three other soldiers that are trapped.
The avalanches occurred in Gurez and Sonmarg. The avalanche in Gurez, which is a town in the mountains that border Pakistan, hit a defense/military installation, causing thirteen of the sixteen deaths. All of the dead were form the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering. The avalanche occurred about 10 p.m. Sonmarg is located a little over 50 miles from Srinagar. Three Territorial Army soldiers were killed in that avalanche that happened about 5 p.m.
The army has asked for assistance from the air force; however, any rescue operations have been very difficult because of the heavy snowfall . Helicopters tried to land in both Sonmarg and Gurez, but the weather was too bad. There is a team of special forces-type soldiers from the high altitude warfare school on the way. Unfortunately, many of those who are still trapped from the avalanche are feared dead.
There are more warnings that more avalanches are possible and those were issued by the country’s disaster management center. In January, a massive avalanche killed eight soldiers who were beginning their morning patrol in Kupwara. That city is about 90 miles from Srinagar.
There are many Indian soldiers that are assigned to the Line of Control. This is an area that is 460 miles long and divides Pakistan and India. It is the disputed territory of Kashmir and the battle over the territory has been ongoing for many years.
A.K. Antony, the defense minister, expressed his grief to the families of the soldiers. He said that the government would be providing rehabilitation and relief to the families of those that were killed or injured.
