Khardung La Pass Avalanche: 5 dead; rescue operation underway | Master Stroke

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).