Two skiers from Poland were killed and nineteen others were rescued after being swept away by an avalanche at Affarwat peak in famed ski-resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said.
A Police Spokesman said, “19 foreign nationals of Russia and Poland alongwith 02 local guides were rescued by J&K Police alongwith tourism department after they got trapped when a massive avalanche hits Hapatkhud Kangdori Gulmarg.”
“Today morning 03 teams of foreign skiers comprising of 21 Foreign Nationals and 2 local guides went to Affarwat Gulmarg for skiing. At about 1230hrs a massive avalanche hits Hapatkhud Kangdori where these skiing teams got trapped”, he said.
“On receiving the information, Baramulla police mobilized joint rescue teams of JKP alongwith Army & tourism department who rushed on the spot & started the rescue operation using all available equipment’s. During the rescue operation, 19 foreign nationals and 2 local guides were safely rescued.”
The spokesperson said that they have been identified as Ekaterina, Maxim, Vladimir, Vasiliy, Engine, Leo, Nikita Mastryukov, Anna Chornyak, residents of Russia and Rafat Kaqmaren, Narcin Wieklux, Eukasz Potaczewck, Tukasz Pasek, Katarzyna Filip, Marcin Raczyk, Barteomie Szkop, Bartosz Domagata, Adrian Anirowsu, Macie Kowalczyk, residents of Poland, a foreign guide Bartos from Poland and 02 local guides namely Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh and Mushtaq Ahmad Mir from Tangmarg.”
“Unfortunately, 02 foreign nationals identified as Krzysltof age (43 years) and Adam Grzech age (45 years), both from Poland lost their lives in the avalanche. The dead bodies of both the foreign nationals have been recovered and shifted to hospital for medico legal formalities”, he said.
