At least one skier from Russia was killed and six other Russian skiers trapped in snow debris of the avalanche that hit the ski resort town of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir were rescued by the security forces on Thursday. Pics/PTI
Updated On: 2024-02-22 09:47 PM IST
Compiled by : Devashri Bhujbal
On February 21, a medium danger level avalanche warning was issued for Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir
"According to media reports, on February 22, 2024, approx at 2 pm, 7 Russia’n nationals came under an avalanche at the ski resort in Gulmarg, J & K. One skier died, six others were rescued as a result of the joint operation of India’n Armed Forced & regional administration," the Russian embassy in India posted on its X handle
Paramedic and volunteers transported the body of a Russian skier to a hospital in Tangmarg, near Gulmarg
As the news of the avalanche broke, a joint effort was initiated by the Gulmarg Ski Patrol of the Tourism Department, police and the Army to rescue the trapped skiers
The avalanche struck the Khilan Marg on Afarwat Peak near the Army Ridge at around 2 pm, trapping several skiers under its debris. According to police, the group of seven Russians and a local guide ventured into a non-ski zone in the Army Ridge area, which is avalanche prone, reported PTI
"There was an avalanche warning but they still ventured into that zone and unfortunately one skier died," Gulmarg police station SHO Haroon Kar said, reported PTI
Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir is a avalanche prone area. The last avalanche in Gulmarg was in February last year, when two Polish skiers were killed and over a dozen were rescued
Security personnel patrolling the ski resort of Gulmarg in the the heavy snowfall on Thursday
