Army rescues eight people trapped in Kashmir avalanche

The army Thursday rescued eight civilians trapped in an avalanche in Banihal of Jammu and Kashmir, a day after the Indian Air Force rescued 203 people stranded for two days in snow-bound areas of Kishtwar, an official said.

"Counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles personnel stationed at Mohubal village saved the lives of eight civilians trapped in the Pir Panjal mountain range," a defence spokesman told IANS.

Four people were seriously injured and were facing grave threat to their lives in the freezing weather under several feet of snow, he said.

A rescue team of one officer and nine Rashtriya Rifles personnel rushed to the site, after receiving information around 4.30 p.m.

The team carried out the rescue operation despite poor visibility, threat of snow slides and to their own lives, and managed to evacuate the injured civilians and give them first aid, the spokesman said.