J-K: 10 soldiers killed after two avalanches hit Kashmir's Gurez sector, PM Modi condoles deaths

At least ten soldiers were killed as two avalanches hit Gurez Sector of Kashmir, an army official said on Thursday. 

An avalanche hit an army camp in Gurez sector of Bandipora district near the Line of Control last evening in which several soldiers were trapped, the army official said. 

He said rescue operations were launched and seven soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer were saved. 

"Bodies of three soldiers were retrieved his morning," he said. The official said another avalanche hit a patrol party which was on its way to a post in Gurez sector last evening. 

"Rescue teams have so far retrieved seven bodies from the spot of the incident," the official said. 

An officer was killed an avalanche on Wednesday at Sonamarg in central Kashmir Ganderbal district while four members of a family died in another avalanche in Gurez sector. 

Authorities have issued a high danger avalanche warning in hilly parts of snow-bound Kashmir valley in view of fresh snowfall which has been going on intermittently for past three days. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths of army jawans. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said he was "deeplysaddened" at the death of the jawans.

Deeply saddened at the death of our Veer jawans in an avalanche in Kashmir. Have directed the authorities for speedy search and rescue ops.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2017

(With inputs from PTI)