The Army said on Saturday its men rescued 73 civilians, including women and children, trapped along the 3,000-metre-high Nasta Chhun pass, better known as the Sadhna pass, following a gigantic avalanche triggered in the area near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district Friday.
Meanwhile, an Army soldier was killed and two others injured when they were struck by lightning in the state’s Samba district Friday night. The trio was on duty near the ditch-cum-bund on Abtal road in the Ramgarh sector when the lightning struck, the police said. Sepoy Jai Paul of Himachal Pradesh died on the spot while the injured, identified as Naik Raj Kumar of Kathua district of J&K and Naik Anil Kumar of Pathan-kot in neighbouring Punjab, are being treated in a local hospital, the police added.
Defence spokesman Lt. Col N.N. Joshi told reporters the recent spell of incessant rains and heavy snowfall at higher reaches of Tangdhar in Kupwara triggered avalanche on Tangdhar-Nasta Chhun road causing road blocks at various places.
“The Army detachment based at Nasta Chhun received information about stranded vehicles full of passengers including women, children, aged persons and an ambulance with a critically ill heart patient approximately 1.5 km from Nasla Chhun pass,” he said, adding that the Army avalanche rescue team of Nasta Chhun pass was sprung into action immediately despite harsh weather conditions, a snow blizzard and zero visibility.
In their swift rescue operation, Army personnel from the local unit of Rashtriya Rifles were able to remove to safer locations all the 73 civilians.
They were given medical aid and subsequently safe passage. “The timely and prompt assistance provided by the Army not only rescued the civilians but also ensured they reach their destination safely. All the rescued persons appreciated the Army which came to their rescue,” the spokesperson said.
Nasta Chhun or Sadhna Pass is a mountain pass connecting Karnah tehsil of Kupwara district with the rest of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located in the vast Shams Bri mountainous range.
