Indian Air Force rescues 220 civilians trapped by heavy snowfall in Kashmir

Snowfall in Kashmir

Indian military said Thursday that Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued 220 civilians including women and children trapped in a remote snowbound area of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The people, according to spokesman, were stranded in snowbound villages of Navpachchi and Sondar of Kishtwar district, around 275 km northeast of Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir. "The Indian Air Force (IAF) airlifted as many as 220 people trapped in snow hit Kishtwar district on Wednesday," Indian military spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.

"Braving piercing snow waves, and extreme cold conditions, IAF' s MI-17 Chopper in assistance with the local administration airlifted these people from the villages."

The villagers were stranded in these villages for past several days, following a heavy snowfall that cut off the road links to the area.

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Vehicular traffic to these places remains suspended in wake of accumulation of snow on the roads.

Kashmir has a rugged terrain. Landslides and avalanches are often triggered from its mountains during frequent rains and heavy snowfall the region receives.

Authorities Monday evacuated dozens of people who were trapped in avalanche prone village Waltengo Nard of Qazigund in Anantnag district, around 75 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital.

In 2005, a snowstorm hit Waltengo Nard village, killing 158 people and injuring scores of others.

The plains and upper reaches of Indian-controlled Kashmir experienced snowfall on Monday following which officials issued high and medium range avalanche warnings for the people inhabiting upper reaches and areas close to the line-of-control (LoC).

Meanwhile, the road link connecting Muslim majority areas of the region to Jammu and beyond remains closed for vehicular traffic for the fourth straight day Thursday due to landslides following snowfall and intermittent rains.

The 294 km Srinagar-Jammu highway is the only surface link that connects two capital cities.

"Work is going on to resume traffic on the road," a traffic department official said. Endi