Five die, several injured in Occupied Kashmir avalanche

At least five people have been killed, and seven were injured after a massive avalanche hit the Srinagar-Leh highway at Zoji La in Ladakh in Occupied Kashmir, reported Indian media on Saturday.

According to Indian authorities, at least 15 vehicles were partially or fully buried under snow following a massive avalanche yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the administration has launched a major rescue operation involving the police, army, border roads organisation, SDRF and district administrations of Sonamarg and Drass.

According to Indian police, the vehicles struck on the highway in the afternoon at Captain-turn at Zojila Pass in Drass.

Earlier in the day, sub-divisional magistrate Drass, Vishal Atri, said five people have been confirmed dead in the tragic incident. Those deceased included three men, a woman and a child.

Atri said that the rescue operation was underway from both sides of the highway – the Sonamarg side in Occupied Kashmir and the Drass side in Ladakh.

Chief Minister of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives.