Today (Feb 22), in Gulmarg known to be a skiing resort town in Jammu and Kashmir, a huge avalanche struck, resulting in the death of one skier from Russia. Seven Russian skiers were caught in the avalanche, and six have been rescued. Search and rescue operations, including helicopter deployments, were swiftly initiated. The avalanche occurred in the upper parts of Gulmarg near the Kongdoori slopes. Officials reported that the foreigners were skiing without local guides. The Army and a patrol team from the Jammu and Kashmir administration were summoned to conduct search and rescue operations.
#WATCH | Search and rescue operation is underway at Gulmarg as one foreign national is missing in the avalanche which hit the area today; Ambulances also stationed at the base pic.twitter.com/kjZCtLiRK7
— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024
Images from the aftermath of the avalanche depict tourists stranded in knee-high snow while a civilian helicopter hovers above the area. Additionally, a snowmobile, frequently utilized by tourists for adventure sports in Gulmarg, can be seen stuck in the snow that now blankets the slope following the avalanche.
According to reports, all participants of the Khelo India Games are unharmed. The fourth Khelo India Winter Games were inaugurated by Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Kumar Sinha in Gulmarg yesterday.
Gulmarg experienced a dry spell in the initial weeks of January, but since the start of February, it has been hit by substantial snowfall. Renowned for its picturesque landscapes and top-tier skiing slopes, the town has now become a magnet for adventure enthusiasts and tourists following the recent snowfall, which broke a period of over two months without precipitation.
The absence of snow during the peak winter season left those involved in tourism disheartened, as winter sports enthusiasts anxiously awaited the transformation of the area into a snowy wonderland. Fortunately, towards the end of January, the long-awaited snowfall arrived, bringing smiles to both locals and visitors alike.
