Avalanche kills man in Indian-controlled Kashmir
Xinhua, February 11, 2015 Adjust font size:
One person was killed Wednesday after an avalanche hit a ski-resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The avalanche hit Kongdoori heights of Gulmarg town, 52 km northwest of Srinagar city, summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"A 28-year-old Bashir Ahmad Bakshi was killed today when an avalanche struck in the upper reaches of Gulmarg," an official at Gulmarg said. "Bakshi's body has been retrieved and so far we have no reports of anyone missing in the area."
Authorities have pressed in rescue teams to launch searches for more persons are trapped in the snow-bound area.
Officials said Bakshi was a local skiing guide.
Thousands of people including foreigners throng Gulmarg during winter for skiing and other winter sports.
The Himalayan slopes in Gulmarg offers access to daredevil practitioners of ski.
Last year, a skier from Switzerland was killed and two others were injured in a similar incident in the area.
Authorities regularly issue avalanche warnings following snowfall cautioning people against venturing in avalanche prone zones. Endi