Date:08/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/08/stories/2008020853631300.htm

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Two Army porters killed as snowfall continues in Kashmir

Special Correspondent

Srinagar-Jammu national highway remains closed

— Photo: Nissar Ahmad

The bus stand in Srinagar city after a fresh snowfall on Thursday.

SRINAGAR: Continued snowfall in the Kashmir valley has claimed the lives of two Army porters and a new born baby while two persons were injured and nearly 40 structures damaged during past four days. The police on Thursday rescued 60 people in the Waltengu area of South Kashmir which had witnessed snowstorm two years back.

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained closed for the sixth consecutive day, the air services too were disrupted for the third day. But Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s special state aircraft managed to land and a private airlines also could operate one single flight. Inclement weather, however, showed no let-up with life out of gear in the whole valley.

Officials in Kupwara told The Hindu that the bodies of two Army porters who were buried alive in the avalanche the previous day near the Sdhana pass on the Kupwara-Tangdhar road were retrieved on Thursday. Both belonged to the Tangdar area. Earlier, a driver of the Border Roads Organisation had died when an avalanche hit the area. A newly born baby died at Sheikhpora, in Shopian district, when its mother Zenab could not reach the hospital due to blocked roads.

Amid hostile weather, the Chief Minister arrived on a short visit to Srinagar along with Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig and other colleagues. He chaired a high level meeting at the airport and asked the divisional administration in Kashmir to remain vigilant for the coming few days in view of the severe weather conditions.