10 missing after avalanche hits Jammu-Srinagar highway

Ten people were reported missing after an avalanche hit the Jammu-Srinagar highway. The strategic 300 km-long road remained closed for the third consecutive day on Friday due to heavy snowfall and landslides, police said.

According to police sources, the avalanche hit a police post near the Jawahar Tunnel on Thursday evening. The missing people comprise six policemen, two fire service personnel and two prisoners.

A search and rescue operation began shortly after the avalanche but bad weather condition has hampered the efforts, the sources added.