Two skiers from Poland were killed on Wednesday after they were buried under an avalanche at the Afarwat peak in the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir.
The police said that the avalanche hit the Afarwat peak in Hapathkhud in Gulmarg from where 19 trapped foreign nationals and two local guides have been rescued.
Rescue operation was launched immediately by the Baramulla district Police along with other agencies. The police said bodies of the killed foreign nationals have been shifted to hospital for medicolegal procedures.
On receiving the information about the mishap, the Baramulla Police mobilised a joint rescue team of the JKP and the Tourism Department which reached the site of the avalanche and traced bodies of the two from under the avalanche.
The peak is a favourite ski spot for foreign skiers who visit the place in large numbers.
The police said that three teams of 21 foreign nationals and two local guides proceeded to the Affarwat for skiing this morning. But unfortunately at about 12.30 pm a massive avalanche hit Hapatkhud Kangdori where these skiing teams got trapped.
The joint rescue operation helped save the lives of 19 foreign skiers and 2 local guides. Senior police officers of the district were personally supervising the rescue operations.
It is worth mentioning here that a large number of foreign and domestic tourists have thronged Gulmarg that has received heavy snowfall this winter. The weather department has issued an avalanche warning at many places as the weather has started opening after a harsh winter.