Shristy Kamal, Pune
A skier from Russia lost his life in an avalanche that hit Mt. Afarwat in the Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir. The deceased has been identified as Anton, 50, from Russia. Seven Russian skiers were on an adventure run when the avalanche hit, burying them and a local guide. The area is known for avalanches, and skiers go there at their own risk.
Gulmarg Ski Patrol, along with the J&K Police and other agencies, successfully rescued six skiers and the local guide after the avalanche. The deceased skier, identified as Hanten from Moscow, was taken to the Tangmarg sub-district hospital for a post-mortem.
The Russian Embassy mentioned that heavy snowfall since February 17 triggered the avalanche. The rescue efforts involved helicopters and a collaborative team from various agencies. The administration of Jammu and Kashmir deployed helicopters for search and rescue. The upper reaches of Gulmarg were hit by the avalanches, the officials said. A visual that came out after the incident shows tourists stuck knee- deep in snow and a rescue helicopter trying to help them by hovering over the area.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar were in Gulmarg during the incident. Abdullah emphasized the risks of skiing in the ‘backcountry’, away from groomed slopes. Tendulkar, on a visit to Kashmir, was en route to Gulmarg.
The Khelo India Games, taking place in Gulmarg, were not affected by the avalanche, and they are scheduled to continue until February 25. It was inaugurated by Lt. Governor Manoj Kumar Sinha. The participants of Khelo India are reported to be safe.
The recent snowfall boosted tourism, filling hotels and causing traffic jams on the Gulmarg-Tangmarg road. Avalanche warnings have been issued due to heavy snowfall in the region.
While this incident is tragic, it’s not the first time skiers have faced avalanches in Gulmarg. In February of the previous year, two Polish skiers died in a similar incident, emphasizing the dangers associated with skiing in such terrain. In 2010, an avalanche at the Army’s High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg led to the deaths of at least 17 soldiers, marking one of the worst snow tragedies in recent memory.