A soldier was killed and another went missing on Friday morning when an avalanche hit a patrol at more than 10,000 feet above the sea level in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Defence spokesman Colonel N.N. Joshi said an Army patrol in Turtuk area of Ladakh was hit by an avalanche around 8 am.
“Two soldiers were buried under the snow. One soldier was retrieved in the immediate rescue drills, while another continues to be missing,” he said.
However, the rescued soldier succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. “The soldier, who was immediately retrieved and evacuated to the nearest medical facility could not be revived by the medical team,” said the spokesman.
The deceased soldier was identified as Lance Havildar Bhawan Tamang, a resident of Lopshu village in Darjeeling.
The efforts were on, when the last reports came in, to rescue the other soldier “in spite of inclement weather in the area.”
Lt.Gen. D.S Hooda, Army Commander, Northern Command expressed his deep condolences to the family of the deceased soldier.
