Gulmarg (Jammu and Kashmir): One Russian skier died while six others, including a local guide, were rescued as an avalanche struck the ski slopes of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
The avalanche struck the Kongdoori slopes of Gulmarg at around 2 pm, trapping several skiers under its debris, officials said. They said six Russian skiers and the guide were pulled out from the debris by rescuers. One of the Russian skiers has died and six are undergoing treatment at a local hospital, the officials said, adding police personnel and a patrolling team of the Jammu and Kashmir administration were carrying out rescue-cum-search operations.
The incident took place amid the 4th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district. The foreign skiers and a guide accompanying the skiers were trapped in the avalanche in the vicinity of the local army camp. Following the avalanche, a massive rescue operation was launched. The rescue operation was carried out by the District Police Baramulla, Tourist Police Gulmarg along with the civil administration to trace the trapped skiers.
Authorities also pressed a chopper into service to assist in the ongoing rescue operation. In the ensuing rescue operation, the body of one skier was retrieved while five others have been hospitalised, Manzoor Ahmad, head of the Snow Ski Rescue Team said.
The Embassy of Russia in India said it maintains constant contact with the local authorities. "The avalanche was triggered by the heavy snowfall observed in the region since February 17. On February 21, a medium danger level avalanche warning was issued for Baramulla district, J&K”, said the Russian embassy in New Delhi.
A J&K Government spokesperson said that aA collaborative effort between the Gulmarg Ski Patrol of Tourism Department and Police resulted in the successful rescue of a group comprising six Russian skiers and one local guide following the avalanche at the higher reaches of Gulmarg, known as Army Ridge. "Despite the valiant efforts of the rescue team, one Russian skier tragically lost his life due to the avalanche," the spokesperson said.
The ongoing 4th Khelo India Winter Games remain unaffected by the incident, the spokesperson said. Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council secretary Nuzhat Gull said all athletes participating in the ongoing 4th Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg were safe. "All Khelo India athletes are safe after the avalanche hit Khilanmarg area of Gulmarg... All the fixtures are being run as per schedule," Gull posted on X.
The area where the skiers were trapped is considered prone to avalanches given the steep terrain, leading to casualties at times. The identity of the deceased skier in Thursday's avalanche was not immediately known though it was confirmed that he was a Russian national. It can be recalled that two Polish tourists were killed while 19 others were rescued after a massive avalanche hit them in Haput Khud area of the Afarwat mountain range at Gulmarg on February 1 last year.
In October last year, an avalanche hit near Mount Kun in Ladakh leading to the death of one soldier. The avalanche hit a group of about 40 soldiers from the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) and the Army Adventure Wing while they were engaged in normal training exercises close to Mount Kun (Ladakh).
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