Five dead, five missing in avalanche at Khardung La in Ladakh
Highlights
- An avalanche buried an SUV at Khardung La pass in Ladakh
- A Scorpio vehicle was hit by a giant wall of snow, say eyewitness
- Rescue operations are on at the mountain pass
Five people have died and five are missing after an avalanche buried an SUV at Khardung La pass in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh this morning. Rescue operations are on at the mountain pass, which, at 17,500 feet, is among the world's highest motorable roads.
Rescuers from the district administration, police and the State Disaster Relief Force are at the site, which is 40 km from Leh town.
Reports quoted eyewitnesses as saying that a Scorpio vehicle was hit by a giant wall of snow.
Khardung La is located north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys.
Last January, a Swedish skier was killed in an avalanche while his companion was rescued in Jammu and Kashmir. The police said that two Swedish skiers were trapped under an avalanche in Affarwat peaks in Gulmarg.