The massive avalanche hit the upper reaches of Gulmarg today near the Kongdoori slopes, officials said. The foreigners had gone to the ski slopes without locals, PTI reported, quoting officials.
Helicopters were deployed, as personnel of the Army and a patrolling team of the Jammu and Kashmir administration were called to carry out rescue-cum-search operations.
Visuals from the aftermath of the Gulmarg avalanche show tourists stuck in knee-deep snow and a civilian helicopter hovering over the area.
A snowmobile, used by tourists for adventure sports in Gulmarg, is stuck in the snow which has covered the slope after the Gulmarg avalanche.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Kumar Sinha inaugurated the fourth ‘Khelo India’ Winter Games yesterday in Gulmarg. All participants of the ‘Khelo India’ Games are reportedly safe.
Gulmarg, which witnessed a dry spell in the first few weeks of January, has seen massive snowfall since the beginning of February.
The town, known for its landscapes and world-class skiing slopes, has become a hotspot for adventure seekers and tourists after the recent snowfall, but no one was prepared for the Gulmarg avalanche, even though warnings had been sounded.
Winter sports lovers waited eagerly to see the locale turned white which finally happened towards the end of January, bringing cheers. The lack of snow during peak winter left the people connected with tourism, including tourists, locals and the hospitality industry with dampened spirits
Earlier this month, a massive avalanche struck the Sonamarg area on Srinagar-Leh Highway. The officials said the avalanche occurred near the workshop for Zojila tunnel construction in Sonamarg.
However, there was no damage reported in the incident.
The authorities issued an avalanche warning for the higher reaches of Kashmir Valley following heavy snowfall in the first week of February.
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