Fayaz Bukhari/ Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Dec 16: Seven army personnel were buried alive when a snow avalanche hit a forward post at Siachen Glacier in Ladakh region this morning while authorities allowed one way movement of traffic from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow.
Srinagar-based Defence Ministry spokesman, Lt Col J S Brar, said that the avalanche struck a post of the 1-Assam Regiment at Hanif Sub-sector of Turtuk area at Siachen Glacier this morning at around 6:15 a.m.
The spokesman said that the rescue teams were immediately rushed to the area from nearby army posts and rescuers recovered six bodies so far. He said that the search for seventh army personal was on when the reports last came in. “The freak weather in the area is hampering the rescue operation”, the spokesman added.
The entire Siachen received fresh snowfall during past two days and the avalanche struck the post when the inter-post movement of soldiers was taking place. The Assam unit is part of the 102 Siachen Brigade and is located at altitudes of around 15-16,000 feet.
This was the first major tragedy in Siachen Glacier during this winter. Early this year on April 7, 140 sliders of Pakistan army and private contractors were killed in an avalanche tragedy in Siachen Glacier. This was one of the major avalanche tragedies of the history in the Siachen area.
In the meantime a medium danger avalanche warning was issued for areas close to Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and Banihal town on Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The areas where the avalanche warning was issued witnessed moderate to heavy snowfall this week.
Coordinator Natural Disaster Management Cell, Kashmir, Aamir Ali said: “A medium danger avalanche warning has been issued for Keran Machil, Gurez, Chowkibal, Uri and Tangdhar areas.”
Ali said that avalanche warning has also been issued for North Kashmir Ski resort of Gulmarg and Jawahar Tunnel in South Kashmir and Banihal town areas.
The Disaster Management cell has asked people living in these areas or going to these places to take precautions and avoid going towards avalanche prone zones.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Traffic Munir Ahmad Khan told the Excelsior that around 800 passenger vehicles and load carriers crossed the Jawahar Tunnel till this evening.
He said that due to the slippery condition of the road in Banihal the vehicular movement in the area is slow. He said that due to slippery road conditions in Banihal sector the traffic during the night will be halted. He said that vehicles from Srinagar will be allowed to ply towards Jammu tomorrow. All the vehicles have to cross Qazigund before 12 noon. This arrangement of allowing one-way traffic from either side on alternate days will continue till further orders.
DIG Traffic, Jammu Shakeel Beig said the one-way convoy from Jammu towards Srinagar was allowed from 5 am onwards today. No movement of vehicles beyond 12.30 pm was allowed from Udhampur TPC onwards. He said up to 6 pm this evening, more than 1000 vehicles including 600 heavy vehicles crossed Banihal and Jawahar tunnel area. He said no down convoy was allowed from Qazigund side towards Jammu today. Tomorrow, no vehicles will be allowed for Srinagar from Jammu and Udhampur on wards.
Mr Beig said the stranded vehicles have already been cleared from the highway and the men and machinery of the BRO, was engaged to clear snow from the highway round the clock. He said the Patnitop area has already been cleared and there was no restrictions for the up and down convoy on Jammu-Batote-Doda-Kishtwar and Bhaderwah road.
The DIG further disclosed that Poonch road via Dera Ki Gali and Bafliaz was still closed while it was through via Bhimber Gali. Several link roads in the higher reaches of Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar were closed but the traffic on Basohli-Bani road in district Kathua has been restored.
A Meteorological Department spokesman, meanwhile, said that western disturbance over the region has weakened and weather in the region will improve by tomorrow.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel