Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 13: Army today said it rescued passengers who were trapped in a snow slide between Pharkian and Patra in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
“Five Tata Sumo vehicles, carrying villagers from Keran area, were caught yesterday in a massive snow slide on the road between Pharkian and Patra. The hapless passengers included one lady in labour and another having suffered a heart attack,” a defence spokesman said here.
On receiving the information, he said, the Army immediately swung into action and launched the rescue operation. “Despite imminent threat of a fresh snow slide, the team worked tirelessly with the Army dozer clearing the road for Tata Sumos to pass safely,” the spokesman said.
As the last Sumo passed through the affected area to safety, the dozer with its operator Havildar M Shankar got caught in yet another snow slide triggered during the rescue effort, he said. “While the soldier was able to rescue all the civilians, he along with the dozer, was completely buried under the snow,” the spokesman said.
His other team members, however, quickly dug him out, the Defence spokesman said and added that while the dozer still remains stuck in the slide, all civilian and Army persons are safe.