5 trekkers rescued from lake

Five trekkers, who were stuck on glacier in a lake in south Kashmir, were today rescued by the authorities with the help of Air Force and Army.
"The students had gone for trekking 26 km south of Aharbal falls when a portion of the glacier they were standing on cracked and fell into the freezing waters of the lake and drifted into the middle," an official spokesman said.
He said one of the students managed to reach to safety while the other four were stranded on the icerberg.
The youth, who reached the banks of the lake, managed to contact Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Jehangir Mir by telephone through a local Bakerwal family, the spokesman said.

"The Deputy Commissioner immediately launched a joint rescue operation with the help of SP Kulgam Mohammed Shafi and deputed joint teams of Army, Police, Fire Services and locals on foot," he said.
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shailendra Kumar requisitioned chopper of Air Force for immediate rescue.
"On a very short notice, a 'Cheetah' helicopter of Air force under the command of Wing Commander Saxena and Flight Lt Raja flew to the location and rescued the stranded youth," the spokesman said.
The youth were later brought to Kulgam hospital for medical examination.