Avalanche kills 4 Indian military troopers in Indian-controlled Kashmir

At least four Indian military troopers were killed and two rescued after an avalanche hit their vehicles in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Saturday.

The avalanche hit the military vehicles Friday evening near mountainous Chang La in Leh district of Ladakh division, about 440 km east of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"The avalanche hit a convoy of three military vehicles last evening and swept them away into a gorge, following which four troopers were killed and two others rescued in injured condition," Tsirin Wangayal, a police official posted at Nyoma police station said. "The injured were removed to army hospital Leh and their condition is stated to be stable."

According to officials, the area received snowfall during past several days, triggering avalanches.

Wangayal said two bodies have been retrieved as search for remaining two was going on.

The three vehicles had two people each including drivers on board and were on way to Leh from a remote area, police said.

Kashmir has a rugged terrain. Landslides and avalanches are often triggered from its mountains during frequent rains and heavy snow the region receives.

During the past five days, 25 people were killed after landslides triggered by heavy rains buried them at three different places. Endi