Army jawan killed, two others injured as avalanche hits forward post in Kashmir

Snow avalanche hit a forward post in the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara in North Kashmir in which one Army soldier was killed while two of his colleagues were injured.

According to the government spokesman, all the three were immediately rescued and taken to the nearby health facility in Tangdhar where the two recovered while one Army soldier succumbed to his injuries.

The defence spokesman said that at 8 pm on Tuesday night one of the forward posts in Tangdhar—known as Roshan post—was hit by a snow mass in which three soldiers were swept away. The Army immediately started the rescue mission and got the soldiers to the health facility.

Officials said that Rifleman Nikhil Sharma (25) of the 7 Rashtriya Rifles was declared brought dead by the doctors. Two other soldiers—Ramesh Chand and Sepoy Gurvinder Singh—are undergoing treatment.

It is in place to mention that all the higher reaches of Kashmir Valley, especially in Kupwara and Baramulla, have received heavy snowfall. The meteorological department has already issued a medium danger avalanche warning in both these districts a few days back.

Meanwhile authorities have allowed traffic movement on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway which was suspended last week after heavy snow in and around Zojila Pass.

On Wednesday, authorities allowed traffic on this important road as the road has been cleared in a short time. The road was closed for four days after Kashmir and Ladakh regions were hit with snow and rains.