Locals in Gulmarg recently witnessed the dance of death after a massive avalanche killed at least 2 Polish tourists at a ski resort. The videos surfacing on social media shows the moment when the avalanche struck the area from multiple angles. Some videos have also emerged showing the aftermath, with various locals shouting in panic about what transpired and gathering their wits to save who could be saved. The incident took place at a “No Go Zone” in Gulmarg area of Baramulla.

Videos making rounds of social media shows the ferocity and speed with which the massive white swathe of snow builds up layer by layer. The avalanche reaches its tipping point and cascades downward, with tonnes of ice surging down from the mountain top, destroying and obliterating anything and everything in its path. Saddeningly, the spot is occupied by some locals who can be seen trying to put as much distance as they could between them and the pile of snow.

Deepak Chinchore, a Congress leader who was at the spot, was quoted by media outlets “We saw the dance of death before our eyes. A 20ft wall of ice fell on the skiers and they got buried under it. It’s all about nature’s fury saying.“

Two Polish nationals were reported dead in the tragedy.

Contents hide
1. The Facts of the Matter
2. What Do the Videos Show?
3. Area was Declared “No Go Zone”
4. 17 Foreigners, 2 Local Guides Rescued

The Facts of the Matter

While snow-capped mountains are wonderful to go for a holiday, they also make for spots of avalanche incidents. An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow build up where the flow can be as fast as 80 mph. What makes avalanche so dangerous is not its speed, but the weight it carries. Every cubic centimeter of snow can weigh as much as 500kg, capable of destroying everything in its path.

Earlier on Monday, two Polish citizens were killed in an avalanche in Gulmarg’s ski resort. The moment when the massive avalanche was triggered, and its immediate aftermath, were caught on cam.

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What Do the Videos Show?

Videos taken from multiple angles show the hair-raising scene of destruction, as tonnes of snow and ice comes crashing down the mountain side with an unprecedented speed. The snow appears to be building up layer by layer, and cascading downward as it obliterates anything and everything in its path. Locals are also seen shouting in panic, trying to take matters in their own hand and take the stock of the situation.

Watch the Video here:

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Area was Declared “No Go Zone”

According to reports, the slope where the avalanche surfaced had been already declared a “no go zone”. The incident took place in Hapatkhud Kangdori area which was earlier declared off limits as there was a chance of an avalanche due to intense snowfall two days ago. Despite the same, a group of Polish and Russian tourists took chance along with two local guides, and soon their worst nightmare got realised.

Following the incident, Baramulla SSP, Amod Nagpure was quoted in a Press Trust of India report saying, “Three teams of 21 foreign nationals and two local guides went to Affarwat for skiing this morning. A snow avalanche struck Hapatkhud Kangdori around 12.30 pm”.

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17 Foreigners, 2 Local Guides Rescued

After the incident, a rescue operation was initiated with local rescue teams of the Department of Tourism and the Army were rushed to rescue those who could be. The hours long rescue operation ended with as many as 17 foreign nationals and the two local guides being rescued.

However, two Polish skiers, identified as Krzysctof, 43, and Adam Grzech, 45, were reported dead in the aftermath. Their bodies were retrieved and sent to the hospital for further formalities.

 

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