Gulmarg avalanche death toll at 17

In the worst-ever snowslide in recent years in Kashmir, 17 soldiers were killed and an equal number injured when an avalanche slammed into them during their winter warfare training on steep slopes of a ski resort, 70-km from Srinagar, on Monday.

Seventeen jawans were buried alive under tonnes of snow, 17 were extricated while 26 were rescued, army spokesman Col. J S Brar said.

The injured, all in serious condition, were admitted to the army hospital in Srinagar, he said.

The dead included an officer, Lt. Prateek, and 16 other jawans, all from Army's prestigious High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), Col. Brar said.