BRO engineer among 6 killed in avalanche in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara

Six people, including an engineer of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), were killed as an avalanche hit north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday evening, officials said on Saturday.

Junior engineer MP Singh of Project Beacon of BRO was on duty on a road in the upper reaches when he was swept down by the avalanche which also hit a passenger vehicle in Sadhna Pass area, officials said.

“One body was recovered last night (Friday) while five others were recovered today (Saturday). Three people have been saved. A 45-year-old passenger was pulled out of the snow in the early hours of the morning, while a child and the driver of the vehicle were rescued soon after the accident last evening,” Kupwara deputy commissioner Khalid Jahangir told Hindustan Times.

The rescued passenger, identified as Ghulam Nabi Bhat, is undergoing treatment at a local hospital and his condition is said to be stable. The rescued child is seven years old, officials added.

Since December 21, Kashmir has been experiencing a harsh winter marked by frequent snowfall. On Friday, there was snowfall in the upper reaches while the entire valley shivered under sub-zero temperatures.

On Saturday, Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius while the ski resort of Gulmarg shivered at minus 9.4 degrees. Leh recorded a low of 16.6 degrees.