Heavy snowfall triggers avalanches in J-K, 10 dead

Ten people, including two Army jawans, were killed while over 100 others were evacuated to safety as the unprecedented snowfall in March triggered avalanches and damaged over 150 structures in Jammu and Kashmir.
As the snowfall shut Kashmir Valley snapping road and air links, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today offered to press a helicopter in service to fly out any injured person stuck in the snow avalanche.
"The state government has offered to place a helicopter to fly out any injured people should the need be felt, medical advice dictate," Omar wrote on Twitter.Com.
The avalanche in South Kashmir's Kulgam district has resulted in three deaths and left about eight injured, he said, adding, the deputy commissioner is supervising rescue efforts.

He said, "The injured are being treated in the district hospital and the nature of (their) injuries are not reported to be life threatening at this moment."
Police said two Army personnel, Naik Vijay Prasad and Dharmindra Singh of 82 field regiment, died after an avalanche hit their camp in Kargil sector of Ladakh region. Bodies of both the personnel have been recovered.

Three persons were killed after an avalanche hit two houses at Paiseran-Dragdun village in Damhal Hanjipora area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district in the wee hours today, a police official said.
A 48-year-old woman died after her tin shed dwelling collapsed due to heavy snowfall at Mimigam village in Qazigund area, the official said.

Three Nepali labourers were killed when an avalanche hit a stone quarry at Kaksar in Kargil sector, he said.