Beacon officer among four dead after avalanche hits vehicle in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 6: A massive rescue operation continued throughout the night in border area of Tangdhar in North Kashmir, where four persons, including a Beacon officer were killed while six others are still missing after a snow avalanche swept away a vehicle at Sadhna top on Friday.

However, rescue teams of police and Army joined by locals have rescued a child and an elderly person and shifted them to hospital.
Officials told UNI over phone from Kupwara on Saturday that rescue operation continued throughout the night though there was intermittent snowfall and poor visibility.
They said rescue teams managed to rescue two persons—a child and an elderly persons from under the snow. The rescued persons were shifted to hospital, they added.
The bodies of three persons, including a woman, have been recovered which are still at 400 feet in the gorge, they said adding the bodies could not be brought to top because of slip and darkness. Efforts are being made to bring the bodies to top. 
The body of Beacon officer M P Singh was recovered last night since it was near the road, they said.
Six persons are still missing, they said adding operation was going on.
A cab was swept away by a snow avalanche at Sadhna top while another avalanche hit a BEACON officer on Friday between 1515 hrs to 1530 hrs.
Locals protested against the authorities, demanding construction of a tunnel to avoid frequent accident on the Kupwara-Tangdhar road, particularly at Sadhna top. We remain cut off for most period of the year due to snowfall, they said adding every year about 35 to 40 people are losing their lives due to accidents at the same place. UNI