Srinagar: Three army personnel were killed on Friday when an avalanche struck their post in Machhil sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said.
“In an unfortunate incident of an avalanche in Machhil sector, the Army lost three valiant soldiers,” an army official said.
The avalanche hit an army post of 21 Rajput around 4:30 pm at Sona Pandi Gali in Machil along the Line of Control. According to officials, four soldiers were trapped in the snow, and all were evacuated.
However, one died on the spot and two other succumbed while being taken to a hospital. The fourth is stated to be stable and has been hospitalized.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed deep sorrow over the deaths. The chief minister conveyed her sympathies to the families of dead soldiers, officials said.
The avalanche struck just two days after a 24-hour avalanche warning was issued for several parts of the state, including Kupwara district, shortly after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan jolted parts of north India.
PTI