Dozens of soldiers missing in Kashmir avalanche

The avalanches struck the Khelenmarg mountains, close to Gulmarg, the region's main tourist destination.

SRINAGAR, February 8, 2010 (AFP) - Dozens of Indian soldiers engaged in high-altitude warfare exercises in Kashmir were missing after avalanches Monday hit the area where they were training, the military said Monday.

The avalanches struck the Khelenmarg mountains, close to Gulmarg, the region's main tourist destination which lies 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Srinagar, the Kashmiri summer capital.

"Some 70 soldiers The avalanches struck the Khelenmarg mountains, close to Gulmarg, the region's main tourist destination have been rescued but dozens are still missing," army spokesman J.S. Brar told AFP.

The area hit by the avalanches houses the Indian army's High Altitude Warfare School, where the soldiers were on training exercises.

"The details emerging from the area are very sketchy," Brar said.

Heavy snowfall was hampering rescue efforts.

"We are struggling to reach the area," Kashmir tourism official Ghulam Mohammed Dar, who was part of the rescue operation, told AFP.

iw/pmc/bsk