Srinagar: Two Polish skiers died in a massive snow avalanche that hit the tourist resort of snow bound Gulmarg in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday,officials said.
They said 19 foreign nationals from Poland and Russia and two local guides were rescued successfully.
The snow avalanche triggered this afternoon near Afarwat hills at Hapath Khud in Gulmarg. The moment when the avalanche hit the Gulmarg resort was caught on camera and it showed people running for safety.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla Amod Nagpure said this morning three teams comprising 21 foreign nationals of Russia and Poland and two local guides went for skiing and a massive avalanche hit Hapatkhud Kangdori at around 12.30 pm where these skiing teams got trapped.
“ A joint rescue was immediately launched by police, Army and the tourism department and 19 foreign nationals and 2 local guides were rescued. Unfortunately, two foreign nationals from Poland lost their lives in the avalanche,” Nagpure said, adding that those rescued were provided medical attention.
The slain were identified as Krzysltof, 43 and Adam Grzech, 45- both from Poland.
The bodies of two were shifted to hospital for medico legal procedures.
SSP said that they were looking as to how the skiers had gone to an area which was declared a red zone- which has considerable risk of avalanches.
“ We are investigating into this,” Nagpure said,
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) had on Tuesday warned of avalanche in Baramulla and several other districts of Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Poonch and Reasi .
UNI
