Seven soldiers killed in avalanche

SRINAGAR - Seven soldiers were killed when an avalanche buried an army post in the Shamsbari mountain range of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district Tuesday, an official said. Eight others were rescued.

Srinagar-based 15 Corps spokesman Lt. Col. J.S. Brar told IANS here that the avalanche buried 15 soldiers. Eight soldiers were quickly rescued.

Bodies of the seven buried under the snow were recovered by rescue teams. Kupwara district is 110 km from Srinagar.

The northern reaches of the Kashmir Valley got heavy snowfall last week leading to avalanches.