Avalanche hits J&K’s Sonmarg, 2 killed

SRINAGAR: Two labourers from Kishtwar died in an avalanche that hit Sonmarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Thursday.

The avalanche came from the upper reaches of the Ranga Morh and accumulated at Sarbal in close proximity to the Nilgrath area, where a Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited, is executing work on the Zojila tunnel.

“When the snow settled, the local management of the company reported that two of their labourers had gone missing,” a police spokesperson said.

Police, Army and SDRF teams reached the spot and started a search. “The site was still vulnerable as small snow slides were happening,” he said.

After strenuous efforts, the bodies of the two construction workers, Sandeep Kumar and Bala Krishna, were retrieved from under the snow.

J&K LG Manoj Sinha expressed anguish over the deaths.

The police spokesperson said it continued to snow at Ranga Morh and the management of Megha had been asked to shift its workers to a safe location till the weather cleared.

The district police helpline had already issued a warning regarding inclement weather and advised people not to venture out in vulnerable areas till the weather improves.