Tragic Avalanche Strikes Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir

An avalanche in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the death of one foreigner on Thursday, while another individual is still missing. A rescued foreigner is currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.

"At approximately 1400 hours today, an avalanche occurred in Gulmarg, trapping three foreigners. Sadly, one has died, one is injured, and one remains unaccounted for," stated the District Disaster Management Authority.

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The avalanche took place on the Kongdoori slopes, trapping numerous skiers who had ventured onto the ski trails without local guidance. The Army and a patrol team from the Jammu and Kashmir administration are conducting rescue and search operations.

In a separate incident on Wednesday, another avalanche struck a vulnerable area of Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh road, blocking the flow of water in the Sindh stream.

Over the past three days, Kashmir has experienced moderate to heavy snowfall, heightening the avalanche risk in the valley's hilly and mountainous regions.

The Army, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir administration's patrol team, is currently engaged in rescue and search efforts. Notably, the avalanche occurred just a day after the start of the Jammu and Kashmir government's 4th edition of the 'Khelo India Winter Games' event in Gulmarg on February 21.

Photographs taken after the avalanche depict stranded tourists navigating through deep snow, with a civilian helicopter hovering above the area. A snowmobile, typically used by adventure enthusiasts in Gulmarg, remains buried under the snow, immobilized on the slope.

Following significant snowfall in the first week of February, officials issued an avalanche warning for the highest slopes in the Kashmir valley.