Swedish skier killed in avalanche at Gulmarg, another rescued
Tragedy had struck Gulmarg last summer when seven people, including a family of four from Delhi, were killed in a freak accident that hit the famous gondola cable lift system in June.
A skier from Sweden was killed and another injured on Thursday when an avalanche hit a peak at the international tourist resort of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.
“The avalanche occurred near the second phase of the gondola service on the Affarwat peak in Gulmarg, trapping two skiers. While skier Daniel (Kunt Henrik) died in the accident, Benjemen was rescued,” a police spokesperson said.
Just a day before the mishap, the administration had issued an avalanche warning for Kashmir division’s seven districts.
“According to the Additional Commissioner Kashmir, avalanche warning exists for avalanche prone areas in Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts of Kashmir division. The warning is valid from 1700 hrs January 17 to 1700 hrs January 18,” a government press note read.
“While all concerned Deputy Commissioners have been asked to take all precautionary measures to avert any untoward incident, the general public have been appealed not to venture in the said areas during the said period,” it continued.
Reacting to the Gulmarg avalanche, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: “Very unfortunate. How were these skiers allowed to ski off piste considering that avalanche warnings had been issued 24 hours ago?”
Baramulla deputy commissioner Nasir Naqash said they had issued an advisory on skiing but the two Swedish skiers “went far off, rather than staying at the normal skiing area”.
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