Two hunters go missing as avalanche hits Lolab forests

Srinagar: Two hunters have gone missing as a snow avalanche swept them along in Lolab forests of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday.

Reports reaching here said that three persons left home today morning for hunting in nearby Rang Warnow forest area. One of them returned by evening and informed the police and administration that there was a snow avalanche in the area. He said that there was a possibility that both of them might have been swept away by the avalanche as he could not find them.

Following the information, local police and Army have launched a rescue operation to trace the duo, they said.

The missing persons have been identified as Bashir Ahmad Hajam son of Mohammad Younis and Mamdin Hajam son Najamdin of Ring Warnow.

“As per the information received, there was a snow avalanche in the area. Police and Army have jointly launched a rescue operation to trace the missing duo,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kupwara, Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar said.

On February 24 last year, three hunters — Bashir Ahmad, Ghulam Mohammad and Mohammad Altaf — came under an avalanche at Guchibal Behak in Lolab. Their bodies were recovered by the Army after six days. (GNS)