An army officer who was reported missing following an avalanche near
the army camp in the Sonmarg area of central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, has been confirmed dead. The army sent out a statement saying no armyman is missing in the avalanche.


In a separate incident, four members of a family died as an avalanche buried their house in Gurez sector near the Line of Control in Kashmir. The avalanche struck at Badoogam village in Tulail area of Gurez in the wee hours and buried the house of Mehraj-ud-Din Lone, a police official said.
He said the house collapsed under the debris of the avalanche resulting in death of 55-year-old Lone, his wife Azizi (50), 22-year-old son Irfan and daughter Gulshan (19).  Lone's another son, Reyaz Ahmad, was rescued by the authorities and admitted to a hospital, the official said.


Surface and air links between Kashmir and rest of the country have been cut off today due to snowfall in the valley as the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed for traffic and all flights to Srinagar Airport cancelled.


Authorities in Kashmir have issued avalanche warning for higher reaches of the Valley following fresh snowfall yesterday and advised people to stay away from the mountains and foothills. 


Image: A train moves on the snow-covered Baramulla-Qazigund railway track. Photograph: Umar Ganie