Kupwara avalanche: Search on for missing security personnel

Srinagar: The five security personnel, who went missing after an avalanche struck near the LoC in Kashmir's Kupwara district, remained untraced on Wednesday even as search operations continued for the second day.

The joint operation in search of four Army personnel and a BSF jawan at Furkian top resumed on Wednesday morning but success eluded the rescue teams so far, defence sources said.

An avalanche struck the troops near a forward post on Tuesday morning when the Army and BSF jawans were clearing snow between their camp and an outpost.

An avalanche struck the troops when the Army and BSF jawans were clearing snow between their camp and an outpost.

Seven security personnel - five Army jawans and two BSF personnel - were buried under the avalanche, prompting a rescue operation which could manage to recover bodies of sub-inspector Narendra Kumar of BSF and an Army jawan by late Tuesday evening.

The rescue operation was suspended last night as the chances of finding the missing personnel alive diminished.

With day break, the rescue teams from local camp and Gulmarg resumed their search for the missing personnel.

The operation was going on when last reports were received, sources said.

Furkian top along with other high altitude areas experienced heavy snowfall this month, following which Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) declared higher reaches, especially areas falling close to the Line of Control, as avalanche prone.

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