Avalanche hits World-Famous Ski Resort
On Wednesday, a huge avalanche struck the upper slopes of the Gulmarg ski resort in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district. The purportedly famous ski resort is located in the Baramulla district of North Kashmir. The well-known Afarwat peak in Gulmarg’s Hapat Khud Kongdori was the site where the avalanche took place.
The LOC is quite close to the summit, which is a part of the Pir Panjal Range. According to eyewitnesses, a 20-foot-tall wall of snow and ice crashed down on a party of foreign skiers, according to reports. In the winter, many tourists travel to Afarwat in the hopes of skiing down one of the best skiing areas in India. Rescue efforts have been begun by the Baramulla Police and other organizations. Despite the fact that it is feared that many skiers are stranded there.
Baramulla Senior Superintendent of Police Amod Nagpure said, “Three teams of 21 foreign nationals and two local guides went to Affarwat for skiing this morning. A snow avalanche struck Hapatkhud Kangdori around 12.30 pm,” 19 foreign nationals have been rescued, and two dead bodies have already been found and being shifted to hospital for medico-legal procedures.
Those who died were identified as Krzysltof (43) and Adam Grzech (45). It’s thought that a number of people, including several skiers, are stranded. Polish nationals have been recognized as the deceased. One visitor, according to the officials, was able to escape unharmed. There were several local travelers as well who were there to enjoy Kashmir winters.
A spokesperson of the Baramulla district police took to Twitter on Wednesday and informed that “the famous ski resort in Gulmarg’s Afarwat peak, Hapat Khud got hit by a massive avalanche. The rescue operation has been launched by Baramulla Police along with other agencies. Reports of some skiers being trapped are being corroborated. More details shall follow.” All India Congress Committee member Deepak Chinchore from Karnataka who happened to be at the spot told PTI that “We saw the dance of death before our eyes. A 20 feet wall of ice fell on the skiers and they got buried under it. It’s all about nature’s fury.”
The 29th and 30th of January saw a lot of snowfall in Kashmir. In Kashmir’s higher elevations in January and February, snow avalanches are common, especially after a new snowfall. The last significant avalanche in Gulmarg killed 17 soldiers in army barracks on February 8, 2010.
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