Srinagar, : Two polish skiers died while 19 other foreigners and two local guides were rescued after a massive avalanche struck near Hapatkhud Kangdori in famed ski-resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday.
“This morning three teams of foreign skiers comprising of 21 Foreign Nationals and two local guides went to Affarwat Gulmarg for skiing. At about 1230 hours a massive avalanche hits Hapatkhud Kangdori and these skiing teams got trapped,” a police spokesman said.
On receiving the information, he said, Baramulla police mobilized joint rescue teams of JKP alongwith Army and tourism department who rushed on the spot and started the rescue operation using all available equipments.
“During the rescue operation, 19 foreign nationals and 2 local guides were safely rescued,” he said, adding, “Unfortunately, two foreign nationals identified as Krzysltof age (43 years) and Adam Grzech age (45 years), both from Poland lost their lives in the avalanche.”
The bodies of both have been recovered and shifted to hospital for medico legal formalities, he said.
Those rescued have been identified as Ekaterina, Maxim, Vladimir, Vasiliy, Engine, Leo, Nikita Mastryukov, Anna Chornyak, residents of Russia and Rafat Kaqmaren, Narcin Wieklux, Eukasz Potaczewck, Tukasz Pasek, Katarzyna Filip, Marcin Raczyk, Barteomie Szkop, Bartosz Domagata, Adrian Anirowsu, Macie Kowalczyk, residents of Poland, a foreign guide Bartos from Poland and two local guides as Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh and Mushtaq Ahmad Mir from Tangmarg.
“Saddened by the loss of lives due to an avalanche in Gulmarg,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in a tweet. “My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap.” (GNS)
