Jammu and Kashmir: Avalanche strikes ski-resort Gulmarg; trapped skiers rescued

Representational Picture/iStock

An avalanche struck the renowned ski-resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Monday marking the third such incident in the past week. No loss of life was reported in the incident.

A collaborative effort of local skiers successfully rescued several individuals caught in the avalanche.

According to an official quoted by the local news agencies, two avalanches occurred at Affarwat in Gulmarg, causing significant disruption. In response, a group of local skiers promptly acted, leveraging their knowledge and expertise in rescue operations to save several individuals trapped in the avalanche.

The official emphasized that the swift response of the local skiers played a pivotal role in locating and freeing many individuals who were trapped beneath the snow, effectively minimizing the potential for a tragic outcome.

On Monday, the Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority issued avalanche warnings for many districts.

Avalanche with a 'low danger level' is likely to occur above 2,400 meters over Bandipore, Baramulla, and Kupwara, said JKDMA, according to newswire ANI.

JKDMA also said that an avalanche with a 'medium danger level' is likely to occur above 2,200 metres over Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban, and Ganderbal districts in the next 24 hours.

People living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into the avalanche-prone areas.

Meanwhile, many places in Jammu and Kashmir continued to receive fresh snowfall, and the temperature lowered to 9 degrees Celsius on Monday.

Several districts are blanketed with several feet of snow in the Kashmir Valley at present, and it affected flights and traffic on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

In Pics: Kashmir's winter wonderland, Gulmarg

A landslide struck the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Kishtwari Patheri near the Sher Bibi area due to a drastic change in the weather conditions.

The Ramsu-Banihal-Srinagar stretch of the highway also recorded massive snowfall, while the rest of the 270 km highway was pounded by rain.

Chopper service to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district also remained suspended due to inclement weather.

On Sunday, a total of 6 IndiGo flights from Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar and Leh were canceled due to bad weather conditions in the regions. (With inputs from agencies)