5 policemen, 2 prisoners killed in avalanche in Kashmir

By Zahid Rafiq

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir - Police on Friday recovered bodies of seven of the 10 people who had gone missing after an avalanche hit a police post in southern Kashmir.

According to police, five of the dead were policemen and two were prisoners lodged in the police post in Qazigund area of Kulgam district.

Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag Mohammad Younus Malik confirming the death toll said that they feared another body lay under the snow.

Only two of the missing people could be rescued.

“Rescue teams are trying their best to reach the site. Strong wind and accumulation of snow on the path are making it difficult albeit the teams are nearby the site,” police said.

Kashmir valley has witnessed unprecedented snowfall since Wednesday with Kulgam district in south Kashmir receiving maximum precipitation in the last 24 hours.