Avalanche kills two soldiers in J&K

The Indian Army on Friday said two out of five soldiers hit by an avalanche in Batalik sector in Jammu and Kashmir have succumbed while search is still on for the third missing soldier.

An avalanche hit an army post on Thursday in the Batalik sector of Ladakh region, burying five soldiers under it.

Two soldiers were immediately rescued from the avalanche debris while three went missing.

The Udhampur headquartered northern command of the army on Friday said: "Out of three missing soldiers in Batalik avalanche, two have been found, but they unfortunately succumbed."

"Search is still on to locate the third missing soldier".

The army also said all soldiers hit by another avalanche in Kaksar sector of Ladakh region have been safely rescued while damages to stores and equipment by the avalanche was being assessed.

Fresh heavy snowfall in the Ladakh region during the past two days has triggered multiple avalanches, especially in the areas close to the Line of Control (LoC).

--IANS

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