Srinagar, Feb 08: Twelve people were killed while one went missing in Jammu and Kashmir following the season’s heaviest snowfall on Thursday in separate avalanches and landslides.
Relief and rescue teams have recovered seven bodies from a police post that was buried under an avalanche in Jawahar Tunnel area of the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
The dead include five policemen and two prisoners who had taken shelter inside the ill-fated police post when the avalanche struck.
Two special police officers (SPOs) identified as Gulzar Ahmad Mir and Gulam Nabi were rescued in an injured state and shifted to hospital for treatment.
One person is still missing in the Jawahar Tunnel avalanche tragedy as rescue teams continue their efforts to locate the missing person in the heavily snowbound area.
Ten people had gone missing when an avalanche hit the police post near the Jawahar Tunnel on Thursday.
Police on Friday recovered the body of Bashir Ahmad Awan in Kokernag area of Anantnag district.
His family said he had gone to collect firewood from the forest on Thursday, but did not return home.
Bodies of two persons killed in the Ramsoo-Ramban sector of the Jammu-Srinagar highway were also recovered. They have been identified as Sanjit Lakra of West Bengal and Pramod Mankotia of Himachal Pradesh, police sources said.
A couple was killed while their two children were rescued after an avalanche destroyed their home in Kokernag area of Anantnag district late on Thursday.
Multiple avalanches occurred at many other places in the Kashmir valley, but due to lack of communication and connectivity, the extent of casualties or damage, if any, is not yet clear.
Authorities have shifted 78 families from avalanche-prone areas of Waltangoo Nar and Kund in Kulgam district to safer places.
Seven families were shifted to the Khag police station after an avalanche hit their village in central Badgam district.
Another 20 families were shifted to safer places from Ganderbal.
Guv expresses grief
Srinagar, Feb 08: Governor Satya Pal Malik has expressed grief over loss of precious lives due to snow avalanche at Jawahar Tunnel where an avalanche had struck a police post last evening.
In his message Governor has prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families in their hour of grief.
