Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir:
A fresh avalanche hit Kashmir Valley on Tuesday, killing an Army jawan in Kupwara district, a day after
17 Armymen met a similar fate during a winter warfare training exercise.
The avalanche hit Tangdhar, 145 kms from Srinagar, around 0345 hours trapping 14 Army personnel, a defence spokesman said.
All the 14 army personnel were extricated from the deep snow but one of them died later.
A massive avalanche had slammed the popular ski resort of Gulmarg on Monday,
killing 17 soldiers and injuring an equal number when the troops were in the midst of a winter warfare training on steep slopes about 70 km from Srinagar.
The avalanche came hurtling down on the 60-strong combat troops as they were scaling the icy walls of high-altitude Khilanmarg peak in near zero visibility.
Snow Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) had issued an avalanche warning on Monday evening and advised people living in high altitude areas not to venture in the area which has been receiving heavy snowfall for the past three days.
"Avalanche warning exists in the high altitude areas for the next 24 hours. People living in the areas are cautioned to avoid movement during snowfall and not to venture out in avalanche prone areas", SASE said.
Areas where high danger avalanche warning exists included Sonamarg, Gagangir, Bhimbat, Drass, Batalic, Dhudi and S M Hills in Kargil district.
It said areas where medium danger of avalanche warning exists included Khilanmarg, Uri, Baaz, Razdan Top, Z-Gali, Keran, Furkian top, Machil, Sadna Top, Urez, Niru, Baruab and Chowkibal in Kupwara and Baramulla districts of North Kashmir.
Areas where low danger avalanche warning exists include both sides of Jawahar Tunnel, the gateway to Kashmir and its adjoining areas on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. (With PTI inputs)
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