One Army jawan killed, five trapped after avalanche in Himachal Pradesh

KINNAUR: At least one Army jawan lost his life and five are feared trapped after an avalanche hit them in Namgya region of Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh. 

The ITBP and district police have launched an operation to rescue the jawans, ANI reported.

Himachal Pradesh: One army jawan dead, 5 jawans still trapped after an avalanche hit them in Namgya region of Kinnaur district. The rescue operation by ITBP and district police is underway. pic.twitter.com/7ZRLH4UFsR — ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2019

Sources said that the avalanche occurred at around 11am. A total of six army men were trapped and one of them was rescued in a critical condition, who later passed away.

The incident happened at in the Dogri Nala area, which had not been hit by an avalanche in the past.

Deputy Commissioner Gopal Chand told IANS that the deadly avalanche was triggered by fierce snow blizzards near Namgyal village bordering Tibet. The site of disaster around some 350 km from the state capital.

"A search and rescue operation to locate the five missing jawans is on. It was snowed heavily in the area," he said. The ITBP personnel were busy repairing the water pipeline when the avalanche hit the region.

An Army spokesperson that the rescue operation would go on till the forces manage to retrieve the last man. He added that a team of about 150 persons is searching for the trapped jawans.

(with IANS inputs)