Srinagar: On Saturday, a massive rescue operation continued for the second day at Khardung La pass, the world's highest motorable road in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, where two trucks carrying 10 civilians were buried under over 20 feet snow on Friday morning.
So far bodies of five people have been recovered and searches for remaining five was going on when the reports last came in despite below freezing temperature, official sources told UNI this morning.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological department has issued a fresh warning of moderate to heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh, during the next five days starting from Saturday.
Governor Satpal Malik, former chief minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti have expressed grief over the loss of lives.
The spokesperson said that all the resources of the Fire & Fury Corps were activated immediately on receipt of this information. Army teams deployed near the incident site swiftly moved and commenced the search & rescue operations. Troops deployed at South Pullu & North Pullu were also moved to the incident site. Simultaneously, the Army Aviation helicopters were pressed into action to move the highly trained avalanche rescue teams of the Army called Avalanche Panthers Teams from Siachen Base Camp and North Pullu.
These teams are equipped with specialised avalanche rescue equipment, medical equipment and avalanche rescue dogs, which are being utilised in the search and rescue operations. Army Aviation helicopters were also used to move the Deep Search Radars which can detect human beings through snow.
Medical teams along with doctors and nursing assistants, heating blankets, medical equipment and warm clothing were moved to the avalanche site from the Army Hospital at Hunder.