3 missing after snow-storm, search ops for trapped soldiers continue

Mir Farhat. Updated: 12/14/2017 2:02:58 AM Front Page

7 rescued from Tawi, Avalanche warning for 6 districts

SRINAGAR: Even as the army is yet to retrieve the five missing soldiers who were trapped in snow avalanches in Kashmir valley triggered by heavy snowfall, three civilians have gone missing from Bhadarwah-Basholi highway following a snow-storm.
In Jammu, the snowfall continued at famous hill-station Patnitop while seven labourers, caught in a flash flood in the Tawi river were rescued, where as in Kashmir, the weather remained very cold and cloudy during the day with light rain and snowfall in the morning, thus making it come to a standstill with major highways closed and daily flights cancelled.
The Meteorological Department has,however, predicted improvement in weather from Wednesday night, while Traffic Police has said that the Srinagar-Jammu national highway is likely to be opened on Thursday.
As per another tragic report, three civilians on their way to Kathua district have gone missing from Chattar Galla pass on Bhadarwah-Basholi highway following a snow-storm.
“Ganesh, Rumal Chand and Kuldeep were returning to their village in Bani tehsil of Kathua district yesterday from Bhaderwah belt of Doda district when they were caught in the snow storm,” officials said, adding that intense snowfall caused by the western disturbance over J-K had triggered the snow storm in the Bhadarwah Valley.
The Chattar Galla pass received nearly 7 feet of snow till 5 pm yesterday.
A joint search and rescue operation was launched this afternoon by the Army and the police, the officials said.
"As soon we came to know about the incident, teams from Rashtriya Rifles, and the police immediately started a search operation from Thantera to Chattar Galla stretch of the highway," Masood Ahmed, Tehsildar of Bhadarwah, said, adding that the operation was underway.
In Valley, the hectic search and rescue operations by army continued for second day in search of five missing soldiers who were trapped in snow avalanches in Kashmir valley triggered by heavy snowfall.
Defense spokesman Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalai told The News Now that search operations are ongoing in Nowgam sector in Kupwara and Baktoor, Gurez in Bandipora district, both the areas fall on the border.
“Search operations are underway,” Col Kalia said, adding that the army can’t say anything whether the trapped soldiers are dead till the operation concluded.
Five soldiers, three of 36 Rashtriya Rifle at Baktoor and two of 20 Dogra in Nowgam sector, went missing after an avalanche, triggered by fresh snowfall, struck near the Line of Control in Gurez and Nowgam sectors on Monday.
A security official said that the terrain where the operations are going are rough and difficult and the weather conditions are very hostile during the winter.
The weather across the valley remained very cold and cloudy during the day with light rain and snowfall in the morning. The weather was dry during the day.
Director Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus said rain with light spell of snowfall will take place in the plains in the next 24 hours and thereafter weather will remain dry.
Lotus said in upper reaches heavy snowfall is predicted in the coming 24 hours.
The first snowfall of the winter brought the whole region to a standstill with major highways closed and daily flights cancelled. The Srinagar-Jammu National highway, Kupwara-Karnah highway and other Gurez-Bandipora were closed by the authorities after the snowfall.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Traffic, Jagjit Singh said the Srinagar-Jammu national highway is likely to be opened tomorrow.
Stranded vehicles, including goods carrier and passenger buses, will be cleared first, the IGP said.
Hundreds of vehicles and passengers were stranded on the NH as the authorities shut the traffic due to landslides at different points on the highway.
Officials said that the road stretch from Banihal to Ramban is the worst-affected portion as major landslides were reported at Panthal, Chamalwas, Magerkor, Marog and Ramsoo. Some small landslides were also reported on the Udhampur-Chenani road.
The IGP said the snow clearance operation at Bannihal and removal of landslide debris is apace. But he cautioned the passengers not to undertake any journey without contacting control rooms in Jammu and Srinagar.
In Jammu, tourists thronged the famous hill-station Patnitop which continued for second day, whereas
seven labourers were rescued by the police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from an island where they got stranded after a flash flood in the Tawi river, an official said today.
Teams of the police and the SDRF were rushed to the spot after being informed that some people were stuck on the Tawi island near Ponicheck here last evening, the official said.
They were rescued safely, he said.
Meanwhile, a medium danger avalanche warning was issued today for some avalanche-prone districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) issued medium danger avalanche warning valid for the next 24 hours starting at 5:00 pm today.
A SASE advisory said medium danger avalanche warning exists for avalanche-prone areas in Baramulla, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kishtwar and Kargil districts.
"People are advised not to venture in avalanche-prone slopes or areas during the warning period," it said.
Banihal Top in Jammu and Kashmir had received 20 cm of snow while Gulmarg got 9 cm and Drass 4 cm.


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