The Army on Saturday said that a series of avalanches triggered by recent heavy snowfall in Kashmir Valley and its neighbourhood have caused “extensive” damage to the fencing along the Line of Control (LoC) and other infrastructure. The situation may be seized by militants to sneak into Jammu and Cashmere from PoK, a senior Army commander said here, adding, “It has posed a fresh challenge to anti-infiltration grid.”
Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik, the general officer commanding-in-chief of the Northern Command, was here on a day’s visit to attend the wreath laying ceremony for the 13 Army jawans killed when an avalanche swept through the headquarters of the 109 Infantry Brigade at Dawar Markote in Gurez valley close to the LoC on Wednesday night. He said there has been extensive damage to the 12-foot-high fence erected in 2004 as part of the counter-infiltration measures-in many areas along the de facto border, especially in Shamsabari range and other infrastructure.
The repair work is unlikely to be started immediately because the avalanche threat persists and also the area has been rendered inaccessible by road in the aftermath of heavy snowfalls and other weather-related troubles. “The efforts to repair and rebuild these facilities will commence once the snow recedes,” he said. Meanwhile, in view of persistent avalanche threat the Army is considering abandoning some of the posts in the area to avoid further loss of life.
Lt. Gen. Parnaik said the area has received so much snow during past months that it has even buried the fence. “This is a yearly phenomenon, but this year the snow has been rather heavy. The fence has got damaged and, in fact, there is so much of snow that it has got over the fence,” he said. Earlier on his arrival here from Udhampur, Lt. Gen. Parnaik was briefed by Lt. Gen. Syed Atta Hasnain, GOC of Srinagar-based 15 (Chinar) Corps, on the damages and loss of lives the Army has suffered in the avalanches as well as the rescue effort underway.
In all, 18 soldiers were killed.