Fact check: Controlled blasting mistaken as 'huge avalanche' in Kashmir's Gulmarg

Baramulla, Jan 07: The controlled blasting done at Affarwat peaks of Ski resort Gulmarg in Barmulla district was mistaken as 'huge avalanche ' creating panic among tourists.

As the controlled blasting of snow was done by the team of experts and international skiers, the explosion was mistaken as an avalanche.

However, the authorities immediately clarified that no avalanche took place in Affarwat Gulmarg but it was an exercise done to avoid future avalanche risk.

"The use of explosives is part of our risk management plan to mitigate the risk of avalanches that would be triggered by skiers in the ski area," Snow Safety Officer (SSO) Gulmarg Ski patrol Brian Newman said in a video message.

He said by using explosives they artificially remove that risk of avalanches triggered by guests by using a stronger force than the weight they expect to be exerted by a group of guests on the mountain. "The explosives perform that perfectly and have been a universal tool internationally for testing these slopes at ski areas and then pronouncing them as safe," he said

Meanwhile, the Assistant Director Tourism Gulmarg, Tahir Wani also clarified that the exercise was part of their routine winter exercise at Afarwat for slope preparation and to minimize future avalanche risks. "This resulted in an avalanche, which was carefully managed under the supervision of our Snow Safety Officer and his team," he said.

He said this practice has been in place for years. "There is no cause for concern," he clarified.