Seven bodies recovered, three rescued in Jawahar Tunnel avalanche

BANIHAL — Seven bodies were recovered while as three persons were rescued alive on Friday from the snow avalanche that hit Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu highway in south Kashmir.

Official sources said that a snow avalanche hit a police post at Jawahar Tunnel on Thursday following heavy snowfall.

“Ten people including six policemen, two fire service personnel and two prisoners were buried alive under several feet of snow,” they said.

“All efforts are being made to evacuate the trapped persons and rescue operation is still continuing,” a senior police officer said.

District Development Commissioner Anantnag, Muhammad Younis Malik said that seven dead bodies were recovered while three persons were rescued alive in the rescue operation since last evening at Jawahar Tunnel.

He said that the identity of the deceased persons is being ascertained, adding that the rescue operation is still going on at the tunnel.

In a similar incident, one person was killed after a snow avalanche struck Sunbradi village of Kokernag last evening. (CNS)