Tourism Deptt, Police brave avalanche to save 6 Russian skiers, local guide

Baramulla, Feb 23: The devastating avalanche hit the Army Ridge area of Gulmarg tourist resort on Thursday, leaving a female Russian skier dead, however, the timely and daring rescue operation carried out by the Tourism Department in Gulmarg and the J&K Police proved pivotal in saving the lives of 6 Russian skiers and a local guide.

On Thursday, a group of Russian skiers, comprising seven skiers besides a local ski guide came under a huge mass of snow, triggered by an avalanche after they had ventured into the backcountry D-4 Zone, which is a red zone.

The incident left a Russian female skier dead, however, the heroic and well-coordinated rescue operation started by the CEO Gulmarg, Waseem Raja, along with the Gulmarg ski patrol, besides the Station House Officer, Gulmarg, Haroon Bashir, successfully evacuated six trapped skiers besides the local ski guide.

Soon after receiving information about the avalanche and trapped skiers, CEO Gulmarg Waseem Raja sprang into action, wasting no time in mobilising a specialised rescue team.

Undeterred by the challenging terrain and harsh conditions, Raja, accompanied by Police officer Haroon Bashir, reached the avalanche site on foot and using a snow bike.

At the site, Raja oversaw the rescue operations, exhibiting leadership in the face of adversity.

His hands-on approach, despite the potential risks, successfully evacuated all the trapped skiers besides the local ski guide.

The skiers were shifted to the nearby hospital and were taken care of by the officials of the Tourism Department in Gulmarg.

The role of the ski patrol party too is being widely hailed, who without wasting any time reached the site and played an important role in saving the trapped skiers.

“It was a difficult rescue operation. The avalanche was massive and skiers were trapped under the huge mass of the snow,” said one of the members of the ski patrol team.

Skiing in the Red Zone area is usually not allowed and skiers are always instructed about the danger of entering into the backcountry zone, however, some of them to have more adventure enter the dangerous zone which is an avalanche area.

Meanwhile, the successful rescue operation carried out by the CEO Gulmarg and the official of the J&K Police is being widely hailed.

The locals while showing their respect for the dedicated officials of the Tourism Department in Gulmarg and the J&K Police said that the timely and well-coordinated rescue operation saved the lives of six skiers besides a local ski guide.