Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

1 foreign skier killed and 3 rescued after avalanche hits popular ski resort in Indian-held Kashmir

A foreign skier has been killed and three others rescued after an avalanche hit a popular Himalayan ski resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Via AP news wire
Thursday 22 February 2024 13:04 GMT

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A foreign skier was killed and three others were rescued after an avalanche hit a popular Himalayan ski resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Thursday, officials said.

At least four foreign skiers and their local guide were hit by an avalanche and buried in snow when they were skiing high in the mountains of the tourist town of Gulmarg, officials said. One remained missing.

Rescuers pulled three survivors from the snow. Officials were yet to identify the dead skier’s name and nationality.

Gulmarg is nestled by the Pirpanjal mountain range in the western Himalayas and has one of Asia’s largest ski terrains, where thousands of domestic and international tourists visit.

Avalanches and landslides are common in Kashmir and have caused heavy death tolls for the Indian and Pakistani armies camped near the mountainous and forested militarized Line of Control that divides Kashmir between the nuclear-armed rivals.

In 2010, at least 17 soldiers were killed after an avalanche hit the Indian army’s High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg during their training session.

At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in three avalanches in 2017, and in 2012, a massive avalanche in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir killed 140 people, including 129 Pakistani soldiers.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in