A massive avalanche hit the ski resort situated in Gulmarg in the upper regions of Jammu and Kashmir. The avalanche resulted in killing 2 Polish tourists and 21 skiers were trapped who were later rescued.
The avalanche struck around 12.30pm, according to the police 3 teams of 21 foreign nationals and 2 local guides were at the ski slopes in Hapatkhud Kangdori. The bodies of the 2 Polish tourists have been recovered and moved to hospital for medico-legal procedures. The other 19 people who were trapped in the snowy heights of Afarwat region were rescued by the Baramulla district police and took them to safe locations near Gulmarg.
Deepak Chinchore an All India Congress committee member from Karnataka who was present at the moment when the avalanche struck stated “We saw the dance of death before our eyes. A 20ft wall of ice fell on the skiers and and they got buried under it. It’s all about nature’s fury”.
Many Russian and Polish nationals have been rescued along with 2 locals, Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh and Mushtaq Ahmad Mir.
Snow avalanches are a common phenomenon in the higher regions of Kashmir during the months of January and February after snowfall, Kashmir received heavy snowfall on January 29th and 30th.
Videos of the avalanche have become viral over social media. The 2 skiers who died were identified to be Krzysltof who was 43 yrs of age and Adam Grzech was of 45yrs of age. Rescuers are working in finding victims caught in the avalanche as people buried have limited access of air when buried under the avalanche.