Khardung La Pass Avalanche: 5 dead, 5 trapped; rescue operation underway

A rescue operation has been launched and efforts to rescue the trapped are being made. A high alert for the avalanche was sounded on Thursday by the administration following adverse weather advisory by the Met.

ashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

New Delhi: In a tragic incident, an avalanche hit Ladakh’s Khardung La mountain pass in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. Five persons were killed and five others went missing after an SUV came under the avalanche. The police, Army and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel had reached the spot. The Border Roads Organisation pressed into service its men and machinery to rescue the passengers of the truck, who were believed to be trapped under the debris. The state is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably. 'Chillai-Kalan' ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir. The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold). An official of the BRO said that the avalanche hit the truck carrying 10 persons at the Khardung La pass in the Ladakh region at 7 am. The BRO official said "so far, the bodies of five persons have been recovered from the avalanche site, while a search is on for the other missing persons," A high alert for the avalanche was sounded on Thursday by the administration following adverse weather advisory by the Met. Former CM Mehbooba Mufti‏ tweeted "Saddened to hear about the loss of lives because of the avalanche in Khardungla, Ladakh . Prayers for the families of the departed."

Saddened to hear about the loss of lives because of the avalanche in Khardungla, Ladakh . Prayers for the families of the departed.

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) January 18, 2019

Khardung La pass: The pass on the Ladakh Range is north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. The elevation of Khardung La is 5,359 m (17,582 ft)