From Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar Feb 23: An Army officer was among 16 Army personnel killed and 11 injured in avalanches that struck Army facilities at Gurez in North Kashmir district of Bandipora and Sonamarg in Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal last night after heavy snowfall for last few days. The Srinagar based spokesman of the Defence Ministry, Lt Col Jagmohan Singh Brar, said here today that last night at around 10 pm, an avalanche struck the 109 Army Brigade, at Dawar Markote in Gurez sector of North Kashmir district of Bandipora near the Line of Control (LoC).He said that 29 soldiers were trapped under the avalanche that damaged around 25 Army vehicles and 17 Army barracks inside the Brigade workshop. A joint rescue operation was launched by Army, Police and Civil authorities and 13 dead bodies were recovered so far and equal numbers of Army personnel were rescued. The rescuers worked round the clock in inclement weather to look for the survivors.
Follow our WhatsApp channel