3 soldiers killed in Batalik Sector, Kahmir highway still closed for traffic

Srinagar/April,7: The heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir triggered multiple avalanches, in which an army picket in Batalik sector in Ladakh got buried Thursday this week afternoon. The Army has said that bodies of three soldiers hit by avalanche have been recovered. Two soldiers have been rescued.
The Army’s Northern Command said specially trained and equipped avalanche rescue teams were employed in Batalik sector to rescue the soldiers trapped in the avalanche.
Earlier, Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment had given avalanche warnings on Thursday for parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The agency had also warned of a high-danger avalanche in Kargil.
Confirming the death of three soldiers, Srinagar based Defense Spokesperson said that five soldiers were buried after a snow avalanche hit Batalik Sector. ‘Three soldiers lose their lives while two have been rescued,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Jehlum waters started receding on Friday while that reading at Ram Munshi Bagh showed little improvement.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains closed due to landslides and heavy rains. Other link roads in the Doda-Kishtwar belt are also closed. The Jhelum river started flowing above the danger mark forcing the administration to issue a flood alert in the Valley.