Avalanches hit Indian Kashmir; 9 soldiers killed

Two massive avalanches in snowbound regions of Indian-controlled Kashmir killed at least nine soldiers, and at least 10 others were feared trapped in a military camp that was partially buried under snow, an official said Thursday.

Two massive avalanches in snowbound regions of Indian-controlled Kashmir killed at least nine soldiers, and at least 10 others were feared trapped in a military camp that was partially buried under snow, an official said Thursday.

Col. K.S. Grewal said three of the soldiers were killed in the mountainous area of Sonamarg and six were killed at the massive army camp in Dawar, a town close to the heavily militarized cease-fire line that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Both avalanches took place late Wednesday night.

Rescue workers in Dawar pulled out 13 survivors who were being treated at a local army hospital, Grewal said. Ten soldiers there were still believed to be trapped under the snow, he said.

Army rescue teams from other parts of the region were trying to reach the Dawar army camp but were delayed by heavy fog, snow and cloud cover, Grewal said.

Amir Ali, a state government disaster management official, warned of more avalanches across mountainous parts of Indian Kashmir.

Avalanches and landslides are common in the Himalayan region, sometimes hitting military posts and army training centers and killing scores of soldiers. In 2010, 17 soldiers died when a wall of snow and ice slammed into the army's High Altitude Warfare School.