At least five soldiers have been reported missing after an avalanche struck Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora and Nowgam regions. The incident occurred on the morning of December 12, 2017, triggered by fresh snowfall. The avalanche hit a forward post in the Gurez sector, near the Line of Control (LoC) at Baktoor.
Three soldiers went missing in Gurez, while two others were reported missing in Nowgam. The army has launched rescue operations, but heavy snowfall in the area is hampering efforts. The region has been cut off from the rest of the country due to the continuous snowfall, with flight operations at Srinagar airport suspended and major highways, including the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, closed.
The Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy snowfall and rain in the Valley until Friday. Authorities have set up helplines for emergencies due to the severe weather conditions. This incident follows a series of deadly avalanches earlier in the year, which resulted in the loss of several lives, including soldiers and civilians.