Bad weather hampers rescue operations in Himachal

Kinnaur, February 21: Heavy snow and rain have hampered the operation to search for five Army jawans trapped in the snow avalanche near the Shipki La border post in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district, officials said on Thursday.

Six jawans of the 7 JAK Rifles of the Army unit—four from Himachal Pradesh, one each from Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir—are feared dead in the avalanche that occurred at around 11 AM on Wednesday.

Six Army jawans were buried alive. One of them was rescued, but he succumbed to injuries subsequently.

In another development, a glacier has slid in Pooh nullah. However, no damage has been reported.

When the avalanche descended rapidly down from the mountainside near Shipki La, 16 Army and ITBP jawans had gone towards the Shipki La border post from Namagya in order to repair a damaged water supply line.

The search and rescue operation has been adversely affected as Pooh witnessed 4 to 5 inches snowfall whereas more snowfall occurred at Shipki La and adjoining areas Wednesday night, Kinnaur District Public Relations Officer Mamta Negi said, adding it has been raining heavily at the spot since morning.

While eight ITBP jawans were on the hill overseeing the water supply line, the Army jawans were standing down the hill, Army sources said